What is the collected fibrous material, often resembling wool, strictly used for by the female *A. manicatum*?

Answer

Lining and sealing individual nest cells

The characteristic behavior that imparts the name 'Wool Carder Bee' relates to the female's collection of plant fibers, or trichomes, which are scraped from leaves and stems, often from plants like Lamb's Ear (*Stachys byzantina*). This collected fibrous material is entirely dedicated to construction and insulation within the nest structure. Specifically, the female uses these strands to line the interior walls of the individual cells she excavates or prepares in her nesting cavity. Following the placement of the pollen/nectar food mass, the entrance to that cell is then sealed using more of this fibrous lining. This material serves a crucial purpose in insulating the developing larva and protecting its provisions, but it is explicitly not consumed by the bee, nor is it integrated into the actual food given to the developing offspring.

What is the collected fibrous material, often resembling wool, strictly used for by the female *A. manicatum*?

Related Questions

What resource is the male *A. manicatum* diet almost entirely restricted to due to reproductive duties?What specific purpose does the large quantity of pollen collected by female Wool Carder Bees serve?Which plant family is frequently cited as a major food source for the Wool Carder Bee?What is the collected fibrous material, often resembling wool, strictly used for by the female *A. manicatum*?How does the female Wool Carder Bee carry pollen, unlike European honey bees?What distinctive physical feature helps identify the male Wool Carder Bee?What is the primary function of nectar in the diet of both male and female Wool Carder Bees?What type of *Stachys* species is noted as particularly attractive, often correlating with high bee activity?What should gardeners prioritize to support the health of *A. manicatum* during their flight season?Compared to nectar utilization, how is the Wool Carder Bee's pollen collection generally focused?
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