Relationships between Nest Architecture and Behavior in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xylocopa virginica</Emphasis> (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

The large carpenter bees nest in reeds, stems and wood. Many other Hymenoptera, including many wasps and some bees, have strong associations between the physical elements of their nests and behavior. Nests of the North American carpenter bee, Xylocopa virginica, were collected in southern Ontario. Nest architecture elements were examined with respect to their impact on life-history elements. In particular, it was determined that the brood cells are provisioned sequentially both within and among branches. There was also no detectable pattern of sex allocation in broods. Nests with branched architecture contained more foundresses, but these foundresses did not appear to contribute in the construction of larger nests. These findings are discussed with respect to other bees, and to the social structure of Xylocopa virginica.