沙漠石蜂Megachile(Chalicodoma) desertorum Morawitz为多种植物的传粉昆虫,在西鄂尔多斯地区是多种濒危植物和荒漠建群植物的重要传粉者。在该地区研究沙漠石蜂的筑巢场所、筑巢材料和蜂巢结构。共调查统计5148个蜂巢的筑巢场所和朝向 选择4个土壤表层成分不同的筑巢地,分别测定其筑巢沙土的机械组成、pH值和土壤紧实度 定点连续观察整个筑巢过程。结果表明:沙漠石蜂95.80%的巢建于岩石表面 土墙、灌木枝条、水泥柱及钢窗框上的巢室数均较少。83.1%的巢室建在东向一面 南向14.2%,西向2.4%,北向仅0.3% 筑巢材料为沙土和唾液制成的泥浆,所用沙土的pH值在8.18~9.34之间、紧实度在1.28~1.84g/cm3之间,其中粒径为0.06~0.15mm的沙土比例最高 1个蜂巢一般由4~10个巢室组成。说明该蜂喜欢将巢室建在朝向东方的岩石表面 筑巢材料主要由唾液和以碱性的粒径为0.06~0.15mm左右的沙土构成。也说明是对干旱炎热的荒漠环境的适应。
Megachile (chalicodoma) desertorum Morawitz is an important pollinator of many endangered species and constructive desert plants in West Erdos Region. The site,materials and structure of 5 148 nests were investigated in this region. The nest materials,pH values,and soil compactions were measured respectively in 4 kinds of nest sites different in surface soil composition,and the process of nesting was observed continuously in fixed points. The results showed that 95.80% of nests were built in rock surfaces,while less were built in man-made soil walls,shrub branches,cement column surfaces and steel window frames. The percentage of eastward nests was 83.1%,southward nests 14.2%,westward nests 2.4%,and northward nests 0.3%. The material was the slurry of sand and saliva. The pH values of nest materials were from 8.18 to 9.34,soil compactions about 1.28~1.84g/cm3,diameters of most soil particles from 0.06 mm to 0.15 mm,and nests were generally composed of 4~10 cells. It indicated that M. desertorum preferred to build nests in eastward rock surfaces with materials of saliva mixing alkaline sand particles from 0.06 mm to 0.15 mm in diameter,which also suggested its adaptability to arid and torrid desert habitats.