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NESTING AGGREGATIONS OF THE EUGLOSSINE BEE EUPLUSIA SURINAMENSIS (HYMENOPTERA: APIDAE): INDIVIDUAL INTERACTIONS AND THE ADVANTAGE OF LIVING TOGETHER1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

Judith Myers  and
M. D. Loveless
Judith Myers
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Science and Institute of Animal Resource Ecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver
M. D. Loveless
Affiliation:
Department of Botany, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
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Abstract

The nesting behaviour of the euglossine bee Euplusia surinamensis was observed on the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica. We found that female bees nest in aggregations, re-use old nests, will take over abandoned nests shortly after the original owner is removed, and will fight off invading bees which attempt to take over their nests. We suggest that the nesting aggregations give bees the opportunity to use old nests and take over partially provisioned nests if the original owner disappears. In this way bees are able to increase their rate of egg laying above that which would be possible with solitary nesting and de novo nest construction.

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 108 , Issue 1 , January 1976 , pp. 1 - 6
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1976

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