Alkaline-soil

Guides

• Nomia melanderi

  alkali bee, Alkali Nomia

  Nomia melanderi, commonly known as the alkali bee, is a solitary ground-nesting bee native to the western United States. It is the world's only intensively managed ground-nesting bee, commercially cultivated for alfalfa pollination. The species nests in dense aggregations in moist, alkaline soils and exhibits traits that preceded insect sociality, including defense of offspring against pathogens and predators.

  solitary-beeground-nestingpollinatoralfalfaagricultural-managementalkaline-soilhalictidaewestern-united-statescommercial-pollinationnesting-aggregationbody-size-aggressiongenomic-model