The NS — Soil Excavators sub-indicator measures habitat suitability for pollinators that build their nests by excavating tunnels in the ground. This group includes the majority of solitary bees (approximately 70% of bee species worldwide), comprising genera such as Andrena, Lasioglossum, Halictus, and Colletes.
These insects prefer bare or sparsely vegetated soils, sandy or loamy, well-drained and loosely compacted. Land cover classes with meadows, pastures, field margins, and semi-natural areas provide the best conditions, while impervious surfaces (asphalt, concrete) and permanently waterlogged soils are unfavourable.
Weight in NS weighted average: 3 (the second most influential factor after vegetated above-ground cavities).
The value is calculated using the InVEST Pollinator Model methodology. Each land cover class (derived from the CLC layer) is assigned a soil-nesting suitability coefficient between 0 and 1:
| Code | Name | Provider | Type | Coverage | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WRD_INVST_99 | InVEST Pollinator Model | Natural Capital Project | model | Global | Continuous |
NS sub-indicator for soil excavators. Each CLC class receives a soil nesting suitability coefficient (0-1) based on the InVEST Pollinator model. Target species: Andrena, Lasioglossum, Halictus. Weight in NS weighted average: 3. Scale: 0-1.