Exclude ants from solitary bee nesting sites

Overall effectiveness category Awaiting assessment
Number of studies: 2
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Study locations

Key messages

One replicated controlled trial showed that excluding ants from solitary nests of the endemic Australian bee Exonuera nigrescens increased production of offspring.

About key messages

Key messages provide a descriptive index to studies we have found that test this intervention.

Studies are not directly comparable or of equal value. When making decisions based on this evidence, you should consider factors such as study size, study design, reported metrics and relevance of the study to your situation, rather than simply counting the number of studies that support a particular interpretation.

Supporting evidence from individual studies

In a replicated controlled trial in Cobboboonee State Forest, Victoria, Australia, 50 single female nests of the endemic allodapine bee Exonuera nigrescens were protected from ants using two plastic cups and the sticky barrier Tanglefoot (Zammit et al. 2008). Fifty control nests were not protected. The nests, made in old flowering stems of the grass tree Xanthorrhoea, were set out in groups of four, one protected and one unprotected. Protected nests were more productive, with an average of 3.6 young per adult female, compared to 1.6 young per adult female in control nests.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Zammit J., Hogendoorn K. & Schwarz M.P. (2008) Strong constraints to independent nesting in a facultatively social bee: quantifying the effects of enemies-at-the-nest. Insectes Sociaux, 55, 74-78.

Please cite as:

Dicks, L.V., Showler, D.A. & Sutherland, W.J. (2010) Bee conservation: evidence for the effects of interventions. Pelagic Publishing, Exeter, UK

Where has this evidence come from?

List of journals searched by synopsis

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This Action forms part of the Action Synopsis:

Bee Conservation

Related Actions

	Actions	Effectiveness	Studies	Category
	Exclude bumblebee nest predators such as badgers and mink Action Link	Awaiting assessment	0	Synopsis Link
	Exclude ants from solitary bee nesting sites Action Link	Awaiting assessment	2	Synopsis Link