Thermoregulation and Heat Exchange in Euglossine Bees

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Abstract
The relations of the temperatures of the thorax ( ), head ( ), and abdomen ( ) to air temperature ( ) are described for male euglossine bees attracted to baits. The large, pubescent bees in the genera Eulaema and Eufriesea regulated fairly well, as indicated by the slope of on ; was distinctly elevated but probably not regulated; was lowest and was most strongly elevated at high , suggesting active heat transfer from the thorax. Euglossa spp., which are smaller and glabrous, regulated somewhat less effectively as a group; here, too, was elevated but not regulated; was only slightly higher than and gave no indication of active heat transfer. Measurements of heat-transfer coefficients as a function of size and wind velocity showed that pubescence is a moderately effective insulator of the thorax at wind speeds ≥ 1.0 m . Data on heat-transfer coefficients and body temperatures allowed rough estimation of total heat loss in the field. Heat loss values were consistent with independent measurements of oxygen consumption.