Colletes inaequalis: Study Reveals Bee-Made Polyester That Degrades in Soil

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Researchers found that Cellophane bee Colletes inaequalis produces a kind of plastic that also degrades within a year. 

About Colletes Inaequalis

• It is a solitary, ground-nesting bee belonging to the Colletidae family.
• They pollinate red maple, willow, and apple trees.
• Unique Nesting Capacity
  • These bees line the inner walls of its nest with a transparent, cellophane-like film, earning it the nickname “cellophane bee.”
  • The nest lining of the ground-nesting bee is translucent, flexible, resilient and degrades within a year.
  • This cellophane like film is a flexible, translucent material made from polyester and silk.
  • The material is produced in a specialized gland, called the Dufour’s gland, that is connected to the bee’s stinger.
  • The polyester produced by cellophane bees resembles polyethylene in its molecular packing.

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Highlights of the Study

• The analysis showed that the polyester produced by the cellophane bee has a “semicrystalline” structure, in which amorphous and crystalline regions coexist within a single material.
• The polyester nest material showed impressive degradation in a short amount of time.
• In natural soil, the amount of polyester lining fell from 73% to 40% of the nest by weight within four months.
• By seven months, the linings developed visible cracks, and by 11 months, they became brittle and prone to crumbling. 

Source: TH