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Western honey bees show several nest-site preferences: the height above ground is usually between 1 metre (3.3 ft) and 5 metres (16 ft), entrance positions tend to face downward, equatorial-facing entrances are favored, and nest sites over 300 metres (980 ft) from the parent colony are preferred. [5] Most bees occupy nests for several years.
The bees nest underground in a variety of soil types, including beach sand, salt flats, dry river banks, clay, garden soil, and compacted dirt and shingle roads; nearly any soil type appears to be used so long as it is on relatively free of vegetation, has a relatively low level of moisture and a sunny aspect.
As obligate nest robbers, Lestrimelitta limao must visit neighboring nests to fulfill its nutritional needs. Usually, a host nest would be occupied for about 4 hours, but occasionally, a raid could last a maximum of 5 days. During the rainy season, there is a greater recurrence of raids due to the lower abundance of flowers.
The nests also have globular pot-like wax cell clusters. [5] In general, nests are constructed using wax mixed with resins, mud, feces, or other materials, otherwise known as batumen. Nests of the genus Trigona are built in cavities that can support these batumen plates created by the bees to shield and protect the colonies.
The honey buzzard attacks bees' nests and eats the larvae. [91] The greater honeyguide interacts with humans by guiding them to the nests of wild bees. The humans break open the nests and take the honey and the bird feeds on the larvae and the wax. [92]
Various species of solitary bees have different needs. The vast majority of these nest in tunnels dug in bare soil, but carpenter, mason, and leaf cutter bees nest in a tube. Only the latter two types nest in ready-made tubes in a bee hotel. They have species-specific preferences for tube diameter (2–10 mm) and length (about 10 cm).
In Ceratina nigrolabiata, a Mediterranean species, males may guard the opening to the nest of a female they hope to mate with, and are often not the father of the brood within the nest; this is the first bee species in which male nest-guarding has been classified as a form of biparental care, [5] but males guarding nests and mating with females ...
Apis dorsata, the rock bee or giant honey bee, is a honey bee of South and Southeast Asia. They are typically around 17–20 mm (0.7–0.8 in) long and nests are mainly built in exposed places far off the ground, like on tree limbs, under cliff overhangs, and under buildings.