tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4233715669196324514.post4101020772568318540..comments2023-05-15T11:12:55.091-05:00Comments on Gorgeous Biologist Knitter Diaspora: RattanySparkling Squirrelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10899640164757220074noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4233715669196324514.post-76073523289131564372009-09-03T09:58:44.137-05:002009-09-03T09:58:44.137-05:00What a cool plant! Your photos are lovely.
You mi...What a cool plant! Your photos are lovely.<br />You might also take a look at: <br />Buchmann, S.L. 1987. The ecology of oil flowers and their bees. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 18: 343-369.Jennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17392353864934026631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4233715669196324514.post-17893078393982849662009-08-29T10:54:19.453-05:002009-08-29T10:54:19.453-05:00Centris bees are really beautiful, furry and large...Centris bees are really beautiful, furry and large. I just looked in Mich's tome and he mentions that bees of that tribe (Centridini) are known to collect oils from Malpighiaceae, Krameriaceae, or Calceolaria (Scrophulariaceae), "presumably for use in provisioning cells" (i.e., the developing larvae eat the oils along with pollen and/or nectar). It sounds like the bees also use the oils to help waterproof their nests, which are often in the ground. "Cells of Epicharis zonata" (also a centridine) "in French Guiana were so well waterproofed that immature stages survived in sand that was well below the water table for months during the wet season."<br />Some review papers for the nesting habits of Centris: Coville, Frankie, and Vinson (1983) and Frankie et al., (1993)Mollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18117106761528614800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4233715669196324514.post-83448201745503918732009-08-28T15:20:42.540-05:002009-08-28T15:20:42.540-05:00Maybe they are moisturizing...Maybe they are moisturizing...Erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03457124392049600087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4233715669196324514.post-91562194900008327482009-08-28T07:29:14.868-05:002009-08-28T07:29:14.868-05:00Way cool. What are the bees doing with the oil? ...Way cool. What are the bees doing with the oil? Crazy.Sparkling Squirrelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10899640164757220074noreply@blogger.com