Bramble-Bees and Others

Bramble-Bees and Others Summary

Bramble-Bees and Others by Jean-Henri Fabre is a collection of essays first published in 1915, offering detailed observations on the behaviors and nesting habits of various wild bees, particularly those inhabiting bramble stems. Fabre's meticulous studies provide insights into the intricate world of entomology, highlighting the complexity and diversity of insect life.

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Bramble-Bees and Others Excerpt

Short Summary: This collection of essays delves into the lives of wild bees, particularly those nesting in bramble stems, exploring their behaviors, nesting habits, and interactions with their environment, providing a window into the complex world of these solitary insects.

Excerpt:

The peasant, as he trims his hedge, whose riotous tangle threatens to encroach upon the road, cuts the trailing stems of the bramble a foot or two from the ground and leaves the root-stock, which soon dries up. These bramble-stumps, sheltered and protected by the thorny brushwood, are in great demand among a host of Hymenoptera who have families to settle. The stump, when dry, offers to any one that knows how to use it a hygienic dwelling, where there is no fear of damp from the sap; its soft and abundant pith lends itself to easy work; and the top offers a weak spot which makes it possible for the insect to reach the vein of least resistance at once, without cutting away through the hard ligneous wall.

To many, therefore, of the Bee and Wasp tribe, whether honey-gatherers or hunters, one of these dry stalks is a valuable discovery when its diameter matches the size of its would-be inhabitants; and it is also an interesting subject of study to the entomologist who, in the winter, pruning-shears in hand, can gather in the hedgerows a faggot rich in small industrial wonders. Visiting the bramble-bushes has long been one of my favourite pastimes during the enforced leisure of the wintertime; and it is seldom but some new discovery, some unexpected fact, makes up to me for my torn fingers.

My list, which is still far from being complete, already numbers nearly thirty species of bramble-dwellers in the neighbourhood of my house; other observers, more assiduous than I, exploring another region and one covering a wider range, have counted as many as fifty. I give at foot an inventory of the species which I have noted.

They include members of very diverse corporations. Some, more industrious and equipped with better tools, remove the pith from the dry stem and thus obtain a vertical cylindrical gallery, the length of which may be nearly a cubit. This sheath is next divided, by partitions, into more or less numerous storeys, each of which forms the cell of a larva. Others, less well-endowed with strength and implements, avail themselves of the old galleries of other insects, galleries that have been abandoned after serving as a home for their builders' families. They make them their own, after a little sweeping and garnishing.

Here are others again, who, more timid and less given to housebreaking, establish themselves in the natural retreats of the bramble, in the soft parts which the mere pressure of the fingers is enough to reduce to a sort of sponge. They hollow out cells there, either separately or grouped in numbers varying from two or three to fifteen or twenty. Lastly, there are some who, more patient or more expert, know how to make themselves a home by digging in the pithy mass. They bore a channel, often of considerable length, which they divide into chambers by means of partition-walls.

The number of cells varies greatly, according to the qualities of the stalk. If the bramble-stump be long, regular and smooth, we may count as many as fifteen: that, at least, is the highest figure which my observations have supplied. To obtain a good idea of the internal distribution, we must split the stalk lengthwise, in the winter, when the provisions have long been consumed and when the larvae are wrapped in their cocoons. We then see that the series of cells occupies almost the whole length of the cylinder, with the exception of the extreme base, which is filled with pith and serves as a pedestal for the building, and the top, which is closed by a thick plug of pithy scraps and bits of wood cemented together.

The partitions between cell and cell are thinner or thicker according to the species. They are always made of the same materials as the closing-plug. The cells are separated from one another by these partitions, which are sometimes so thin that they are almost transparent. The length of the cells varies greatly, not only according to the species, but also according to the sex of the larva. The females, being larger, require more room; the males, being smaller, are content with a narrower lodging. The difference in size between the two sexes is often considerable, especially with the Osmia, the Megachile, and the Anthidium bees, where the females demand nearly twice as much space as the males. Thus, by examining the structure of these tiny homes, one can infer much about the life cycles and behavior of their inhabitants.

Fabre's meticulous observations provide an intimate look at the fascinating and industrious world of wild bees, demonstrating their ingenuity in adapting to nature's resources. His work remains a cornerstone of entomological studies, offering valuable insights into insect behavior and ecological interactions.