Stem-nesting Hymenoptera in Irish farmland: empirical evaluation of artificial trap nests as tools for fundamental research and pollinator conservation

Insect pollinators are suffering global declines, necessitating the evaluation and development of methods for long-term monitoring applied field research. Accordingly, this study evaluated use trap nests (“bee hotels”) as tools investigating ecology cavity nesting Hymenoptera within Irish agricultural landscapes. Three consisting 110 mm diameter plastic pipe containing 100 cardboard nest tubes varying were placed at eight apple orchards oilseed rape sites left in five months. Sealed occurred 15 16 sites, 77% 48 nests. However, only 7% 4800 individual sealed, 4% produced cavity-nesting Hymenoptera. bee species (Hylaeus communis, Osmia bicornis, Megachile versicolor) two solitary wasp (Ancistrocerus trifasciatus, A. parietinus) emerged from tubes. There significant differences among terms emergence date which they emerged, latter allowing calculation niche width overlap, informing choice tube size future studies/conservation efforts. Trap nests, therefore, offer a valuable tool fundamental ecological research model system interactions between stem-nesting their wider networks. The ability to actually increase farmland pollinator abundance diversity part agri-environment schemes requires additional investigation. used sufficient numbers, these provide biogeographical data viable means long term farmland.