Foraging, Grooming and Mate-seeking Behaviors of Macropis nuda (Hymenoptera, Melittidae) and Use of Lysimachia ciliata (Primulaceae) Oils in Larval Provisions and Cell Linings

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Abstract
The 1st demonstrated use of floral oils in nest cell linings and pollen provisions is reported for the bee M. nuda. The floral oil chemistry is closely analogous to the cell-lining lipids secreted from the Dufour''s glands of many other bee genera. Details of oil and pollen collection and transfer behaviors at L. ciliata are compared with those of other bee taxa. The simultaneous pollen and oil collection behaviors are reminiscent of Melitta buzz pollination (sensu Buchman, 1978). Aspects of the mating biology, including hind leg posturing to advertise mating nonreceptivity, are also discussed.

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