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Nonfloral sources of chemicals that attract male euglossine bees (Apidae: Euglossini)

Journal of Chemical Ecology volume 19, pages 3017–3027 (1993)Cite this article

Abstract

We present chemical analysis of four rotten or fungus-infected logs that attracted fragrance-collecting male euglossine bees. Eight of the 10 volatile compounds detected have never been found in the fragrances of orchids pollinated by male euglossine bees. Nonfloral sources of chemicals such as rotting wood may constitute an important fragrance resource for male bees. Since rotten logs produce large quantities of chemicals over long periods of time, such nonfloral sources might be more important than flowers as a source of certain fragrances for some euglossine bee species. Fragrance collecting in euglossine bees might have evolved originally in relation with rotting wood rather than flowers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, 32611-2035, Gainesville, Florida

    W. Mark Whitten

  2. Milwaukee Public Museum, 800 W. Wells St., 53233-1478, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

    Allen M. Young

  3. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, 08544, Princeton, New Jersey

    David L. Stern

Authors
  1. W. Mark Whitten
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  2. Allen M. Young
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  3. David L. Stern
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Whitten, W.M., Young, A.M. & Stern, D.L. Nonfloral sources of chemicals that attract male euglossine bees (Apidae: Euglossini). J Chem Ecol 19, 3017–3027 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00980599

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00980599

Key Words

  • Hymenoptera
  • Apidae
  • Euglossini
  • floral fragrance
  • fungi
  • skatole
  • chemical ecology
  • orchid
  • rotting wood