Study

Bees and wasps in the agricultural landscape (Hymenoptera Aculeata): colonization and augmentation in trap nests

  • Published source details Gathmann A. & Tscharnkte T. (1997) Bienen und Wespen in der Agrarlandschaft (Hymenoptera Aculeata): Ansiedlung und Vermehrung in Nisthilfen. Mitteilungen der Deutschen Gesellschaft für allgemeine und angewandte Entomologie, 91-94.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Plant dedicated floral resources on farmland

Action Link
Bee Conservation

Provide nest boxes for bees (solitary bees or bumblebees)

Action Link
Farmland Conservation

Provide artificial nest sites for solitary bees

Action Link
Bee Conservation

Plant nectar flower mixture/wildflower strips

Action Link
Farmland Conservation

Provide artificial nest sites for solitary bees

Action Link
Bee Conservation
  1. Plant dedicated floral resources on farmland

    Gathmann & Tscharntke (1997) monitored solitary bees and wasps nesting in reed stem nest boxes placed on three set-aside fields sown with a clover grass mix in Germany over three years. Relative to nest boxes placed in semi-natural grasslands, few species occupied these nest boxes (quantitative details are lacking from the report of this trial).

  2. Provide nest boxes for bees (solitary bees or bumblebees)

    A replicated trial from 1994 to 1996 in central Germany (Gathmann & Tscharntke 1997) found that reed Phragmites australis stem nest boxes were occupied by 13 species of bee (Apidae), 19 species of wasp and 17 species of parasite and parasitoid (Hymenoptera). In total, 8,303 nests were made. The number of occupied stems almost doubled over three years from 1,761 in 1994 to 3,326 in 1996. One-hundred-and-fifty reed stem nest boxes (plastic tubes filled with 150 lengths of 20 cm reed stem) were placed at 15 different sites. Three replicates in each of five habitat types were studied: sown field margin strips, set aside fields (sown with clover Trifolium spp.-grass mixture), extensively used grassland, chalk grassland, orchard meadows. Ten reed stem nest boxes were placed in each site. In autumn, nests were dissected and occupants identified. This study is also referred to by (Tscharntke et al. 1998)).

     

  3. Provide artificial nest sites for solitary bees

    In a replicated trial in central Germany from 1994-1996, 150 reed stem nest boxes (plastic tubes filled with 150 ´ 20 cm lengths of reed stem) placed at 15 different sites were occupied by 13 species of bee, 19 species of wasp and 17 species of parasite and parasitoid (Gathmann & Tscharntke 1997, also referred to by Tscharntke et al. 1998). In total, 8,303 nests were made.

  4. Plant nectar flower mixture/wildflower strips

    A replicated trial from 1994 to 1996 in central Germany (Gathmann & Tscharntke 1997) found that few solitary bee and wasp (Hymenoptera: Aculeata) species occupied reed Phragmites australis stem nest boxes in set-aside fields sown with a clover-grass mix relative to nest boxes placed in semi-natural grasslands (quantitative details are lacking from the report of this trial). Three replicates in each of five habitat types were studied: set-aside fields (sown with clover-grass mixture), sown field margin strips, extensively-managed grassland, chalk grassland, orchard meadows. Ten reed stem nest boxes were placed in each site. In autumn, nests were dissected and occupants identified. This study is part of the same study set-up as Gathmann & Tscharntke 2000.

  5. Provide artificial nest sites for solitary bees

    In a replicated trial on field margins, set aside fields and extensively managed meadows in central Germany from 1994-1996, 150 reed stem nest boxes (plastic tubes filled with 150 ´ 20 cm lengths of reed stem) were placed at 15 sites (Gathmann & Tscharntke 1997). The number of occupied stems almost doubled over three years from 1,761 in 1994 to 3,326 in 1996.

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