Thursday, 3 August 2006
404

Preliminary studies on social communication in males of Megalopta genalis (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Edgar Javier Hernandez, Biology, University of Missouri - St. Louis, 6817 Kingsbury Blvd Apt 1E, St. Louis, MO 63130

The role of males in social hymenoptera is considered to be mainly reproductive. Few studies have addressed the possibility of social interactions of the male within the colony.Here we present preliminary data suggesting a social role of males within the colonies of the facultatively social bee Megalopta genalis (Hymenoptera: Halictidae). We used enclosure encounters on circular arenas to determine the initiation and degree of behavioral interactions between males. We also correlate the degree of dominance with morphological features (size). We recorded 15 distinct types of interactions; eight dominant, 3 subordinated and 4 neutral. Dominance was related with size suggesting competition for resources or probably mates within the colony. We also report the use of acoustic signals between individuals within the colony and we hypothesize that these signals reinforce behavioral communication especially during the night time in which these bees are mainly active.


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