Diadasia enavata

(Cresson, 1872)

Sunflower Chimney Bee

Diadasia enavata, commonly known as the sunflower chimney bee, is a solitary ground-nesting in the Apidae. It is a restricted to plants in the Asteraceae family, and has been documented pollinating Coreopsis tinctoria. The occurs across Central America and North America. Like other Diadasia species, it constructs burrows in soil, often with distinctive turret-like structures at the entrance.

Diadasia enavata by (c) crseaquist, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by crseaquist. Used under a CC-BY license.

Diadasia enavata by no rights reserved, uploaded by Robbie Hannawacker. Used under a CC0 license.

Diadasia enavata by (c) Morgan Hay, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Morgan Hay. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Diadasia enavata: /daɪəˈdeɪziə ɛnəˈvɑːtə/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Habitat

Ground-nesting that excavates burrows in soil. Observations in Colorado indicate use of bare earth on trails and open ground for nesting. The species requires access to Asteraceae plants for foraging.

Distribution

Central America and North America. Documented in the southwestern United States including Colorado, with observations at elevations including plains and higher-elevation sites.

Diet

restricted to Asteraceae plants. Documented visiting Coreopsis tinctoria for pollen and nectar collection.

Host Associations

Coreopsis tinctoria - Observed pollinating this
Asteraceae - Restricted to this plant for foraging

Life Cycle

Solitary with ground-nesting . Females construct individual burrows in soil, provision with pollen from Asteraceae , and lay . Development includes egg, larval, and pupal stages within the nest before .

Behavior

Males have been observed approaching flowers, including milkweed. As a solitary , females work independently to construct and provision nests. Male may occur near nesting areas, a trait observed in though not explicitly documented for this species.

Ecological Role

of Asteraceae plants. Contributes to of native and agricultural plants in this through pollen transfer.

Human Relevance

Contributes to pollination of native wildflowers and potentially agricultural sunflowers and related crops. Of interest to native conservation efforts.

Similar Taxa

Diadasia rinconisCongeneric cactus chimney bee with similar ground-nesting and male , but differs in geographic range (Sonoran Desert) and plant specialization
Diadasia bituberculataBindweed turret bee with similar turret-building nest architecture, but specializes on Convolvulaceae (morning glories) rather than Asteraceae

More Details

Nesting Biology

The 'chimney bee' refers to the turret-like structures that Diadasia often construct at their nest entrances. These structures are built from soil and wax secretions and may function in nest recognition, water drainage, or deterrence.

Research Context

A doctoral candidate at UC Davis maintains a research blog titled 'Diadasia, The Lives of Other Bees' focusing on native ground-nesting bees including this , reflecting growing scientific interest in these .