Orchid-bees

Guides

• Euglossini

  orchid bees, euglossine bees

  Euglossini, commonly known as orchid bees, is a tribe of approximately 200 species in five genera (Euglossa, Eulaema, Eufriesea, Exaerete, and Aglae) distributed throughout the Neotropics. The tribe is unique among corbiculate bees in that non-parasitic members exhibit diverse social behaviors ranging from solitary to primitively eusocial, rather than uniform eusociality. Males are distinguished by their exclusive behavior of collecting volatile fragrances from orchids and other sources, storing them in specialized hind tibial pockets for use in courtship displays. This fragrance collection drives mutualistic relationships with orchids, where male bees serve as exclusive pollinators for many species.

  orchid-beeseuglossine-beesApidaepollinationchemical-ecologyfragrance-collectionneotropicalorchid-mutualismkleptoparasitismbioindicatormetallic-colorationsolitary-beeseusocialitycourtship-displayZahavi's-handicap-principle