Andrena milwaukeensis
Graenicher, 1903
Milwaukee Mining Bee, Milwaukee Andrena
Andrena milwaukeensis is a solitary mining in the , to North America. It is a ground-nesting that has been documented as the primary for the parasitic Stylops advarians in Saskatchewan, Canada. Research on this host- relationship has revealed significant anatomical and behavioral impacts of on female bees.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Andrena milwaukeensis: /ænˈdriːnə mɪlˌwɔːkiˈɛnsɪs/
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Images
Habitat
Ground-nesting in soils; specific substrate preferences not documented for this . As a mining , it excavates underground tunnels for nesting.
Distribution
North America; specifically documented from Saskatchewan, Canada, and Vermont, United States.
Seasonality
activity period from early May to late June, based on collection records from Saskatchewan.
Host Associations
- Stylops advarians - Neotenic females inhabit the of female , inhibiting ovarian development and reducing capacity. around 22% annually with mean intensity of 1.2 per bee.
Life Cycle
Solitary with in spring. Parasitized females emerge approximately 10 days earlier than non-parasitized females, suggesting manipulation of .
Behavior
Females excavate underground nest tunnels, provision with pollen and nectar, and lay . Males typically emerge before females. Parasitized females show reduced foraging capacity due to anatomical displacement of the .
Ecological Role
; specific associations not documented. Serves as primary for Stylops advarians, supporting a specialized in prairie and riverine .
Sources and further reading
- BugGuide
- Wikipedia
- GBIF taxonomy match
- iNaturalist taxon
- NCBI Taxonomy
- Catalogue of Life
- Not-so Solitary Bees - Buglife Blog - Buglife
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- Bees of the Changing Chalk Partnership Area - Buglife Blog - Buglife
- Life history traits and interactions of Stylops advarians (Strepsiptera) with its bee host, Andrena milwaukeensis
- Adaptive morphology of the host-seeking first-instar larva of Stylops advarians Pierce (Strepsiptera, Stylopidae), a parasite of Andrena milwaukeensis Graenicher (Hymenoptera, Andrenidae)
- Anatomical impact and notes on viviparous development related to infestation by neotenic females ofStylops advarians(Strepsiptera: Stylopidae) on adult femaleAndrena milwaukeensis(Hymenoptera: Andrenidae)