Courtship behaviour in the genus Nomada – antennal grabbing and possible transfer of male secretions

By

Schindler, Matthias
Hofmann, Michaela
Wittmann, Dieter
Renner, Susanne, 1954-

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2018

Original Publication

Journal of Hymenoptera research

Volume

65

Pages

47-59

Subjects

Antennal structure , chemomimesis , copulation , cuckoo bees , male secretions

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Washington, D.C International Society of Hymenopterists

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.65.24947

 

Abstract

Due to low population densities, copulation in the cuckoo bee genusNomadahas not previously been observed, although a seminal paper by Tengö and Bergström (1977) on the chemomimesis between these parasitic bees and theirAndrenaorMelittahosts postulated that secretions from male glands might be sprayed onto females during copulation. Our observations on the initiation and insertion phase of copulation in three species ofNomadanow indicate antennal grabbing as a mechanism by which chemicals are transferred between the sexes. Histological studies of the antennae ofN.fucataandN.lathburianareveal antennal modifications associated with cell aggregations that represent glandular cells, and SEM studies revealed numerous excretory canals.