Løken (1961) suggests the species is a pocket-maker, but later, Løken (1973) contests that this behaviour may change at later stages of development to become a typical pollen storer. Nests are established in the ground, often in abandoned rodent burrows (eg Lemmus lemmus); sometimes very near the surface, and sometimes at a greater depth (eg 10cm) depending on local conditions. The colonies are small (less than 20 workers in a nest investigated in Sweden) (Løken, 1973).