Lawrence has some new entomological residents. University of Kansas doctoral candidate Ismael Hinojosa-Díaz discovered the giant resin bee, also known as Megachile sculpturalis, near campus last June. Before then, the farthest west the bee had been spotted was in Ohio. The species, a native of Asia, is relatively new to the North America.
"Of course I got a little bit excited," he said.
Hinojosa-Diaz said the discovery completely altered the projected model of how the species would spread throughout the United States. He would know. He helped to author a paper in 2005 that applied statistical modeling collected by studying non-native plants to project the bees' migration patterns.
The giant resin bee differs from most bees native to the United States because they are non-social, meaning they do not live in colonies or hives. The bees collect resin to line their shelter, reproduce, and die before their offspring emerge and seek out new places to live, repeating the cycle.
Charles Michener, professor emeritus and doctor of entomology, said the introduction of the giant resin bee would alter the landscape of North American entomology.
"This bee belongs to a group of bees known from the old world," he said. "There's no native bee like it."
The matter of just how the species arrived in the first place is still a mystery to those studying it.
"Nobody knows just how," Michener said. 'We just don't know how it spreads."
Hinojosa-Diaz said it has been challenging to study the progression of the giant resin bee, because so few sightings are reported or thoroughly documented. He did say, however, that with a new ecosystem to deal with, the bee would have to adjust its habits.
"Since it's not its natural environment, the same things aren't affecting it," he said.
Both Hinojosa-Diaz and Michener said they were skeptical the bees progression had anything to do with global warming, and that it was typical for insects to spread until what they deemed "equilibrium." However, they were both uncertain whether or not the bee would reach its new projected areas.
"There are other suitable habitats for it on the pacific coast," Michener said. "Whether or not it'll get there, I don't know."
"Of course I got a little bit excited," he said.
Hinojosa-Diaz said the discovery completely altered the projected model of how the species would spread throughout the United States. He would know. He helped to author a paper in 2005 that applied statistical modeling collected by studying non-native plants to project the bees' migration patterns.
The giant resin bee differs from most bees native to the United States because they are non-social, meaning they do not live in colonies or hives. The bees collect resin to line their shelter, reproduce, and die before their offspring emerge and seek out new places to live, repeating the cycle.
Charles Michener, professor emeritus and doctor of entomology, said the introduction of the giant resin bee would alter the landscape of North American entomology.
"This bee belongs to a group of bees known from the old world," he said. "There's no native bee like it."
The matter of just how the species arrived in the first place is still a mystery to those studying it.
"Nobody knows just how," Michener said. 'We just don't know how it spreads."
Hinojosa-Diaz said it has been challenging to study the progression of the giant resin bee, because so few sightings are reported or thoroughly documented. He did say, however, that with a new ecosystem to deal with, the bee would have to adjust its habits.
"Since it's not its natural environment, the same things aren't affecting it," he said.
Both Hinojosa-Diaz and Michener said they were skeptical the bees progression had anything to do with global warming, and that it was typical for insects to spread until what they deemed "equilibrium." However, they were both uncertain whether or not the bee would reach its new projected areas.
"There are other suitable habitats for it on the pacific coast," Michener said. "Whether or not it'll get there, I don't know."
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