Orange-Legged Furrow Bee: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Tiny Builders · day 5 of 7

Five facts

1. This sweat bee is named for its rusty-orange legs. Females are about 1 cm long.
2. These bees dig their nests into south-facing slopes. The slope soaks up the sun's heat and keeps the nest warmer.
3. Females rest for 10 months somewhere else, then fly back to within centimetres of the very nest they came from.
4. Nests sit about 50 mm apart at the closest. Packed any tighter, the nests would be likely to cave in.
5. A female left unmated for two or three days likely stays a worker. No worker was ever found to return the next season.

The quiz

1. What gives this bee its name?

• Orange wings
• A rusty-orange body
• Orange eyes
• Rusty-orange legs (correct)

Females have rusty-orange legs.

2. Which way do the nest slopes face?

• South (correct)
• North
• East
• West

The south-facing slope absorbs more heat and warms the nest.

3. How long do females rest (diapause) before flying back to their nest?

• 2 weeks
• 10 months (correct)
• 3 months
• 2 years

They fly back after 10 months in diapause.

4. Why are nests kept about 50 mm apart?

• To avoid cold wind
• To stay hidden from parasites
• Closer nests risk collapsing (correct)
• To leave room for flowers

Packing nests closer than about 50 mm makes them likely to cave in.

5. What happens to a female left unmated for two or three days?

• She likely stays a worker (correct)
• She becomes a queen
• She leaves the colony
• She lays eggs alone

She will likely stay a worker.

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