D3052: From the ground up: Parasitism and aggregate nesting in solitary Andrena bees

Solitary ground-nesting bees offer important ecological services as pollinators of native plants and crops. Although they are solitary, with one female per nest, some species build their nests in dense aggregations. This unexplained behavior can pose a problem: parasitism. Parasites, like the kleptoparasitic Nomada bees, are attracted to dense groups of organisms. We aim to describe the function of aggregate nesting by determining whether dense nest sites have higher host success or parasitism rates. We will genetically test larvae from nests in different densities to compare their rate of parasitism. This study will provide foundational knowledge that will help future monitoring and conservation efforts.