Abstract
Males of the solitary bee Amegilla (Asarapoda) paracalva employ two mate-locating tactics: aggressive defense of sites from which virgin females are emerging and patrolling flower patches that are visited by conspecific females. At one study site, a single male was able to control an entire emergence area for one or more days. Multiple males patrolled one flower patch, interacting aggressively on occasion but no one individual was able to monopolize this resource. Territorial males at the emergence site secured mates by waiting by tunnels for receptive virgin females to emerge after metamorphosis. Males patrolling the flower patch pounced upon flower visiting conspecifics and mated with receptive females there. Territorial males at the emergence site were larger than average individuals, probably because of the advantage larger males have when grappling with opponents. Flower patrolling males were smaller than territorial males at the emergence sites, perhaps because of the advantages gained by these males from rapid, agile flight.
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Thanks to Sue Alcock, Carol Simmons and Freddy Simmons for their contributions to the bee project.
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Alcock, J., Bailey, W.J. & Simmons, L.W. The Mating System of Amegilla (Asarapoda) paracalva Brooks (Hymenoptera: Apidae). J Insect Behav 23, 69–79 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-009-9196-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-009-9196-x