Geologické aspekty činnosti včel (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) v recentních ekosystémech České republiky

Abstract: In the area of the so-called “castellated sandstones” (in central, northern and eastern Bohemia), bioerosive activity of solitary bees may be locally the strongest geological process. The bioerosion shows close interrelationships to abiogenic processes of rock weathering. Subsequently, the bees’ tunnels are affected by several geological processes, namely enlarging of the tunnels by salt erosion, their “halving” during the degradation of surficial rock crusts, and a rapid hardening of the rock surface by a secondary opaline cement. These alterations might complicate the interpretation of the traces of the bees’ activity.

Key words: Bioerosion, nests, ichnology, Hymenoptera, Czech Republic