Chemical Ecology of Bees of the Genus Centris (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Abstract

The reproductive biology of some plants is based on the movement of pollen between plants by insects. In many plant-insect pollination systems the plant produces a “reward” usually in the form of nectar. However, a number of plant taxa produce oil as a floral reward. Bees of the genus Centris are known as “oil-collecting” bees which are the important mediators in the reproductive success of oil reward producing flowers. These bees are solitary and their own reproductive success depends on the interaction between the sexes and the ability of the female to construct and provision a nest. In this paper we discuss the importance of male territorality and its maintenance to the reproductive success of this taxa of bees. We also discuss the nesting biology of Centris in Costa Rica focusing on the resource needs of females.