Observations on Male Territories in a Carpenter Bee, Xylocopa (Neoxylocopa) hirsutissima Maidl (Hymenoptera, Anthophoridae)

Observations were made on territoriality of ♂♂ of the Brazilian carpenter bee Xylocopa hirsutissima. These territories are found on mountain tops where the ♂♂ hover from 4–6 p.m. in close vicinity of an optical beacon, being a protruding shrub or little tree. Territories are defended against other ♂♂Production of a pheromone by the mandibular glands is supposed. This territoriality as well as that of other species of the genus is considered to be an important aspect of the mating biology.

[1]  E. Krüger.  Über die Balinfiüge der Männchen der Gattungen Bombus und Psithyrus (Bombidae Hymenopt.) , 2010 .

[2]  A. Haas.  Vergleichende Verhaltensstudien zum Paarungsschwarm solitärer Apiden , 2010 .

[3]  A. Haas.  Arttypische Flugbahnen von Hummelmännchen , 1949, Zeitschrift für vergleichende Physiologie.

[4]  A. Frank.  Eigenartige Flugbahnen bei Hummelmännchen , 2004, Zeitschrift für vergleichende Physiologie.

[5]  F. Ruttner,et al.  UNTERSUCHUNGEN ÜBER DIE FLUGAKTIVITÄT UND DAS PAARUNGSVERHALTEN DER DROHNEN. V. - DROHNENSAMMELPLÄTZE UND PAARUNGSDISTANZ , 1972 .

[6]  S. Sakagami,et al.  Observations on the Bionomics of Some Neotropical Xylocopine Bees, with Comparative and Biofaunistic Notes (Hymenoptera, Anthophoridae) (With 59 Text-figures and 7 Tables) , 1971 .

[7]  C. C. Landim.  Estudo comparativo de algumas glândulas das abelhas (Hymenoptera, Apoidea) e respectivas implicações evolutivas , 1967 .

[8]  A. Haas.  Vergleichende Verhaltensstudien zum Paarungsschwarm der Hummeln (Bombus) und Schmarotzerhummeln (Psithyrus) I. Teil , 1967 .

[9]  E. Linsley.  Notes on male territorial behavior in the Galapagos carpenter bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) , 1965 .

[10]  D. Janzen.  Notes on the Behavior of Four Subspecies of the Carpenter Bee, Xylocopa (Notoxylocopa) tabaniformis, in Mexico , 1964 .

[11]  E. Linsley,et al.  Territorial Behavior among Males of Protoxaea gloriosa (Fox) (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae) , 1963, The Canadian Entomologist.

[12]  R. Morse,et al.  Drone Congregation Areas , 1963 .

[13]  N. Gary,et al.  Chemical Mating Attractants in the Queen Honey Bee , 1962, Science.

[14]  W. Balduf.  Life of the Carpenter Bee, Xylocopa virginica (Linn.) (Xylocopidae, Hymenoptera) , 1962 .

[15]  P. D. Hurd.  Observations on the Nesting Habits of Some New World Carpenter Bees with Remarks on their Importance in the Problem of Species Formation (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) , 1958 .

[16]  A. Haas.  Neue Beobachtungen zum Problem der Flugbahnen bei Hummelmännchen , 1946 .