Foraging by Male and Female Solitary Bees with Implications for Pollination

• Published in: Journal of insect behavior Vol. 19; no. 3; pp. 383 - 401
• Main Authors: Ne'eman, G, Shavit, O, Shaltiel, L, Shmida, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Springer 01.05.2006; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal behavior; Animal ethology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Anthophora; Anthophora plumipes; Apoidea; Bees; Biological and medical sciences; Efficiency; Eucera; Eucera nigrilabris; Females; flower visitation; Flowers; foraging; Foraging behavior; foraging efficiency; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; gender differences; Habropoda; Habropoda tarsta; host plants; insect pollination; Males; nectar feeding; Plant species; Pollen; pollinating insects; Pollination; Pollinators; Protozoa. Invertebrata; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; solitary bees; Synecology; Terrestrial ecosystems; Mediterranean region; Israel; Nectar; Anthophoridae; Insect pollination; pollination; Insecta; foraging; Male; solitary-bees; Foraging behavior; Mediterranean; Apoidea; Arthropoda; Flower visiting; Female; Solitary bee; Hymenoptera; Invertebrata; Pollination efficiency; Comparative study; Aculeata
• ISSN: 0892-7553; 1572-8889
• DOI: 10.1007/s10905-006-9030-7

Both male and female solitary bees visit flowers for rewards. Sex related differences in foraging efficiency may also affect their probability to act as pollinators. In some major genera of solitary bees, males can be identified from a distance enabling a comparative foraging-behavior study. We have simultaneously examined nectar foraging of males and females of three bee species on five plant species in northern Israel. Males and females harvested equal nectar amounts but males spent less time in each flower increasing their foraging efficiency at this scale. The overall average visit frequencies of females and males was 27.2 and 21.6 visits per flower per minute respectively. Females flew shorter distances increasing their visit frequency, relative foraging efficiency and their probability to pollinate. The proportion of conspecific pollen was higher on females, indicating higher floral constancy and pollination probability. The longer flights of males increase their probability to cross-pollinate. Our results indicate that female solitary bees are more efficient foragers; females seem also to be more efficient pollinators but males contribute more to long-distance pollen flow.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]