Kevin McCue instigated an adventure to the Brindabellas on Fri 24 Oct to search for a solitary bee, and jointly led the outing with entomologist Kim Pullen, an expert in the field.
The bee in question was Leioproctus (Leioproctus) nigrofulvus (Cockerell 1914) (Hymenoptera: Colletidae). It has been found to nest exclusively in mounds of the subterranean native termite Coptotermes lacteus (Froggatt 1898), burrowing to a specific depth. It also seems to need a particular plant in the nearby understory, as adult flights coincide with bloom in Davesia, the native legume on which it forages. Researchers studied it in the Brindabellas before the wildfires of 2003, and had since rediscovered its presence after these fires, as described in a paper by Glynn Maynard and Sujaya, which was refereed by Kim Pullen. https://bioone.org/journals/the-pan-pacific-entomologist/volume-86/issue-1/2009-20.1/The-solitary-bee-Leioproctus-Leioproctus-nigrofulvus-Cockerell-1914-Hymenoptera/10.3956/2009-20.1.short?tab=ArticleLinkReference
Before the outing, Kim reviewed the holdings of the bee Leioproctus nigrofulvus in the Australian National Insect Collection (ANIC), and found there were two series of specimens associated with termite mounds in the Brindabella Range. One series gave an elevation of 2,500 feet (~760 m), putting it at the foot of the Brindabella Range, rather than the crest. The other series was more specific, giving the locality as Five Crossings, which was the name of a track that followed Condor Creek upstream from Thompson’s Corner on the Brindabella Road towards Blundell’s Flat. Condor Creek at Five Crossings is at an elevation of about 680 m.
So, after car-pooling in Canberra, we proceeded to Condor Creek. The old track was eroded and overgrown, but we scouted around the vicinity and made our way down to the creek through a stand of healthy, large Ribbon Gum (Eucalyptus viminalis). We found a lot of flowering Davesia, but alas, no termite mounds. We rested for some morning tea, and were rewarded by a rich chorus of bird calls. See my list below.
After returning to the cars we enjoyed our lunch, then undeterred, decided to head to higher elevations in search of termite mounds. In convoy, we drove the back way up to Piccadilly Circus, noting some mounds to inspect on our return down. We first explored the bush at Piccadilly Circus, comparing and contrasting the plants, insects and birds to Condor Creek, then stopped at the Bulls Head facilities where we had afternoon tea. Deidre Shaw had kindly brought along a delicious home-made slice to share, and we’d saved some hot tea to wash it down. Interestingly, we found a termite mound with apparent bee holes near the Bulls Head car park.
On the way back, we also found apparent bee holes in some, but not all, of the termite mounds above Condor Creek, and these mounds were near flowering Davesia. Some native bees were seen, as yet unidentified, and also many butterflies. These included quite a few Caper Whites, Common Grass-blues, a Small Grass-yellow, a Bright Copper, a Yellow Admiral and an unidentified Blue.
Further citizen science in the field could help continue the story of this bee.
Thank you Kevin and Kim!
– John Stein
BIRD LIST
(John Stein)
Australian Magpie
Black Duck
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
Crimson Rosella
Eastern Yellow Robin
Fantail Cuckoo
Grey Butcherbird
Grey Fantail
Grey Shrike-thrush
King Parrot
Laughing Kookaburra
Leaden Flycatcher
Pied Currawong
Red Wattlebird
Rufous Whistler
Sacred Kingfisher
Satin Bowerbird
Shining Bronze Cuckoo
Spotted Pardalote
Striated Pardalote
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
Wanga pigeon
Welcome Swallow
White-naped Honeyeater
White-throated Treecreeper
Yellow-faced Honeyeater
Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo