Hi,
Most of the literature used the term "cavity nesting" for honey bees.  If they find a suitable cavity in the ground it may be used but there seems to be some preference for cavities some distance above the ground.  Shallow caves and ledges on cliffs can be considered to be "above ground" conpared to the bottom of the cliff.  It is pretty well documented that honey bees used caves and rock ledges in arid areas with few large trees.  Now the literature also indicates the the AHB are less selective in nest sites than EHB using smaller cavities.  These smaller cavities occur in a wide range of places making more acceptable nest sites available to AHB.

The use of cavities in a range of sizes and locations relative to the ground allows honey bees to inhabit some areas with good floral resources that lack suitable nest cavities inside trees.

blane


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Blane White
MN Dept of Agriculture
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