The nesting habit and behavior of Megachile (Chalicodoma) desertorum

Key Words： Megachile (Chalicodoma) desertorum, nesting, reserving food,ovipositing, behavior

Abstract： The nesting habits and behavior of Megachile (Chalicodoma) desertorum Morawitz were observed for the duration of the adult lifecycle in the West Erdos Region from 2004 to 2005 The results indicate that this species constructs 8 to 12 nests throughout its life, and that it preferentially uses old, undestroyed nests. The process of restoring an old nest includes site selection, site clearing, nest maintenance, storing food, oviposition and sealing the nest entrance. The process of building a new nest included opening the nest, storing food, oviposition, sealing the nest entrance and lining cells. Each new cell required mud to be collected more than 40 times and was provisioned with beebread 13-21 times. One egg was deposited in each cell.