Mating behavior in halictine bees (Hymenoptera: Halictidae): III. Copulatory behavior and olfactory communication

Abstract

Of the eight species of halictine bees whose mating behavior was studied, Augochlora pura (Augochlorini) and Lasioglossum zephyrum (Halictini) were investigated in the greatest detail. Halictine bees have a short, simple courtship. Copulation occurs in the male-above position and its duration, 4 to about 340 seconds, varies significantly among species. Females resisted most mating attempts of males and usually mated only once. Males inseminated more than one female. Males discriminated between conspecific females and those of other species; they did not make significantly more contacts with living, mobile females than with immobile ones killed by freezing. Female odors of L. zephyrum and A. pura include aphrodisiacs; at least the former has a sex attractant which may be the same compound as the aphrodisiac. Virgin females of L. zephyrum 2 to 8 days old produce aphrodisiac; it may be present throughout life. Some halictine females were highly attractive to males for up to 15 days, even after the females had mated. Aphrodisiac caused males of L. zephyrum and A. pura to pounce upon 3 mm black India ink dots, which they probably mistook for females. Heads, mesosomas, and metasomas of females of L. zephyrum all bore aphrodisiac. © 1975 Masson & Cie.