ISSN:
1423-0445
Keywords:
euglossine flowers
;
perfume collection
;
euglossophily
;
floral fragrant exudates
;
nesting behaviour
;
mating behaviour
;
bee pheromones
;
nest mimicry
;
signal evolution
;
Hymenoptera
;
Apidae
;
Euglossinae
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Summary A fascinating pollination system has been evolved between perfume producing flowers and perfume collecting male euglossine bees in the neotropics. Detailed investigations have contributed to an understanding of the interactions between euglossine males and flowers as a pollination system. The role which the collected perfume plays in the reproductive behaviour of euglossine bees is not fully understood. A favoured hypothesis suggests that the collected fragrances are used as precursors for male sex pheromones and thus serve to attract conspecific males or females. It is not known how perfume collection behaviour evolved. Here, an evolutionary approach presents a new hypothesis which suggests that the evolution of perfume collection in euglossine males is based upon pre-existing signals which were attractive to females and males. It is further suggested that, at the evolutionary outset, flowers mimicked nest sites to deceive nest-seeking euglossine bees. In addition, a comparative study was undertaken on the phenomena of nest-mimicking flowers in related bee families.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01245884
