• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.25-33
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• 2023

Solitary bees, such as Osmia cornifrons, O. pedicornis, O. satoi, and O. taurus (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae), have the potential for cost-effective and sustainable pollination, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of their ecological traits to implement effective fertilization strategies for various crops. This study investigated the nesting rate of Osmia spp. in different regions and altitudes, using various trap types, and found that the highest nesting rate occurred at altitudes of 300-399 m a.s.l. and showing a preference for bamboo-type traps, with the Andong region having the highest nesting rate overall, indicating the influence of altitude, habitat area, and trap type on the density of Osmia spp. nests. The distribution and diversity of the four Osmia spp. in different regions and altitudes revealed variations in their occurrence, with O. pedicornis having the broadest distribution rate, particularly at altitudes above 300 m a.s.l.. The present study found significant differences between species in the cocoon masses of O. cornifrons, O. pedicornis, and O. taurus, with region and altitude influencing the masses of each species too.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.48-58
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• 2024

Reports of a global decline in pollinator populations, especially mason bees, have raised concerns regarding the maintenance of pollination interactions. Although addressing local factors causing bee decline is a potential mitigation strategy at the landscape scale, regional rates and high-latitude threats to bee diversity are unclear. We investigated the distribution of mason bees (Osmia. spp. (O. pedicornis, O. corniforns, O. taurus, and O. satoi) and measured species richness and species ratios at regional, latitudinal, and altitudinal scales. We examined the association between bee species richness and three putative environmental conditions: high-low, altitude-dependent, and latitude-dependent. The species richness of the O. pedicornis bee was the highest and it was found between latitudes 35° and 37°, and at 500-600 m in both the northern and southern hemispheres, showing an inverse latitudinal gradient of bee species richness in South Korea. Mason bee species richness and global climate are important predictors of flowering plant diversity. Climate change threatens bee and vascular plant diversity; however, the overlap between bee abundance and plant diversity can be improved by employing suitable conservation strategies.