Behavioral repertoires and interactions between Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae) and the native bee Lithurgus littoralis (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) in flowers of Opuntia huajuapensis (Caryophyllales: Cactaceae) in the Tehuacán desert
Abstract
The introduction of the European bee Apis mellifera (L.) (Hymenoptera: Apidae) into the arid environments of Mexico has affected the behavioral ecology of native bees. We described the behavioral repertoire and interactions between A. mellifera and the native bee Lithurgus littoralis (Cockerell) (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) on Opuntia huajuapensis (Bravo) (Caryophyllales: Cactaceae) flowers in a semiarid environment. We filmed 150 cactus flowers to obtain the diversity of behaviors and their durations, and so quantify interactions between exotic and native bees. The behavior accumulation curve shows differences in the behavioral repertoire between the two bee species and between the sexes of the native bee. We found that European bees and native female bees invested more time in feeding behavior than native male bees and recorded a wider repertoire of agonistic behaviors in native male bees compared to the female, and native male bees often remained inactive perched in flowers for wide range of time. The results indicate a possible interaction of interference competition among species of bees visiting flowers of O. huajuapensis.
Key Words: honey bee; native bee; agonistic behavior; competition
Resumen
La introducción de la abeja europea Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) en los ambientes áridos de México ha afectado la ecología del comportamiento de las abejas nativas. Describimos el repertorio conductual y las interacciones entre A. mellifera y la abeja nativa Lithurgus littoralis Cockerell (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) en flores de Opuntia huajuapensis Bravo (Cactaceae) en un ambiente semiárido. Filmamos las abejas en 150 flores para obtener la diversidad y duración de las conductas y cuantificamos las interacciones entre abejas exóticas y nativas. La curva de acumulación de conductas (modelo de Clench) indica que hay diferencias en el repertorio conductual de las dos especies de abejas y entre sexos de la abeja nativa. Encontramos que A. mellifera y las hembras de L. littoralis invierten más tiempo alimentándose que los machos de L. littoralis, y que éstos cuentan con un amplio repertorio de conductas antagónicas que contrasta con el de las hembras y que incluye permanecer inactivos en las flores por amplios lapsos de tiempo. Los resultados indican una posible interacción de competencia por interferencia entre las especies de abejas nativas y no nativas que visitan las flores de O. huajuapensis.
Palabras Clave: abeja europea; abejas nativas; comportamiento agonístico; competencia
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