Euglossini

Male specimen of a Euglossa spec.

The orchid bees or orchid bees ( Euglossini ) are a tribe of the family of rights bees ( Apidae ). In this group are about 200 described species, distributed in five genera are summarized. An elderly assignment is to the basket collectors.

Most species are solitary, but some join into groups or exhibit simple forms of eusocial behavior. All five genera, Euglossa, Eulaema, Eufriesea, Exaerete and Aglae, occur exclusively in tropical South and Central America. The representatives of the latter two genera are Kleptoparasiten in the nests of other orchid bees. All orchid bees, except those of the genus Eulaema are characterized by a striking, shiny metallic coloring in green, gold and blue tones.

In male orchid bees, the tibiae of the hind legs to form a unique structure are transformed, which is used to different volatile compounds (often esters) to collect and store. Mainly these substances of orchid flowers are collected, which offer neither nectar nor pollen, and then discharged at specific locations where also matings were observed again. Although it is believed that these fragrances are used to communicate with the females, an attractive effect or an effect on the reproductive success of males was not detected. With the help of these fragrances, the male orchid bees can easily attract for study purposes and catch. Some of the scents are noticeable even for people as pleasant as methyl salicylate, eugenol, cineole, benzyl acetate, methyl benzoate, methyl cinnamate and others as unpleasant as skatole.

Many neotropical orchid species have evolved complex mechanisms to attach the male bee pollen packets ( pollinia) to certain parts of her body. The differences in the placement of pollinia ensure that pollination works only within the same orchid species. Different types of orchid bees are also attracted by various substances of the plants, so that there is a certain specialization of orchid bees art on certain types of orchids. An early description of these pollination conditions was Charles Darwin, he held the bees involved, however, for females.

Documents

• Michael S. Engel (1999): The first fossil Euglossa and phylogeny of the orchid bees ( Hymenoptera: Apidae; Euglossini ). American Museum Novitates 3272: 1-14.