Nesting of <i>Oxybelus quatuordecimnotatus</i> Jurine, 1807 (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) from Poland

Nests of Oxybelus quatuordecimnotatus Jurine, 1807 were examined in the village of Sierakowo in northern Poland. Adult insects were encountered from early June to mid-August. Eight nests were observed; three were excavated and examined. The nests were built only at sandy sites. The diameter of the canal was in the range of 3–3.5 mm, and the length was 7 cm. Material removed during digging was placed near the nest entrance and formed a characteristic canopy. The main burrow led to a single cell or two. Cocoons were approximately 8 mm long and 5 mm wide. Females of O. quatuordecimnotatus provisioned their nests mostly with flies from three families, Fanniidae, Muscidae, and Lauxaniidae, with 5–12 prey items per cell. A kleptoparasitic fly, Senotainia conica (Fallén, 1810), was recorded. One observation of Smicromyrme rufipes (Fabricius, 1787) entering a burrow was made. Both females and males of O. quatuordecimnotatus were recorded on the flowers of Achillea millefolium L. Peucedanum oreoselinum (L.) Moench and Daucus carota L.