Wood-Boring Bees
In many localities where there is a supply of decaying wood in which to form their burrows, these insects are not uncommon. Each female works independently of the others-not, as do Hive Bees and Humble Bees, in societies, for the good of the community. Each digs out a burrow for herself; forms one or more cells in it; stores her cells with pollen or other food suitable for the nourishment of her larvae; lays an egg in the mass in each cell; closes up the mouth of the latter; and leaves the larva to escape from the egg, to live on the food stored up for it, and to pass through its development. At last the young Bees escape from the cells, and from the burrows when they are fully mature, to repeat the process for the benefit of their own offspring in turn. There are several kinds of Wood-boring Bees found in England, belonging to more than one genus. They show a considerable likeness to the common Hive Bee, so that they might be mistaken for the latter by a casual observer. Some of them burrow not only in decaying wood, but also in old walls, in the ground, or even in soft sandstone. The species of Megachile are called "Leaf-cutter Bees," as they cut pieces from the leaves of Roses, or other plants, and employ them in forming the cells for containing the larval food in the burrows. The end of each cell is closed by a set of circular pieces of leaf. Another Wood-borer has had one of its habits recorded by the well-known Rev. Gilbert White, of Selborne. This habit is that of stripping off the hairs from the surface of various plants, shaving the stems bare, as White says, "with all the dexterity of a hoop-shaver," and flying away with a bundle held between its chin and fore legs, almost as large as itself. With the hairs the female collects in this way she forms cells by uniting them with some sticky cement into a substance like felt. The cells are made in burrows dug out of the rotten wood of decaying Willows. This Bee's scientific name is Anthidium manicatum.