Use of Visual and Olfactory Cues for Individual Nest Hole Recognition by the Solitary Bee Epicharis metatarsalis (Apidae, Anthophorinae)

Abstract

Both social and solitary Hymenoptera have a remarkable ability to navigate and to find their way back to their nests (Wehner, 1981). Nest location and recognition by Hymenoptera can involve both visual and olfactory cues (Holldobler and Michener, 1980). It has been proposed that the use of olfactory cues for individual nest recognition is an important ‘‘preadaptation’’ for the multiple evolutions of sociality among Hymenoptera, since chemical pheromones are frequently used by social Hymenoptera to distinguish nest mates or kin from outsiders (Wcislo, 1990, 1992). Previous studies on the use of visual and olfactory cues for individual nest location and recognition (summarized in Wcislo, 1992) suggest that the use of both categories of cues is widespread among bees (Apiformes), although most hunting wasps (Sphecidae) may use only visual cues. The wide taxonomic distribution of the use of both chemical and visual traits among bees implies that all bees can use both kinds of cues for either nest location or recognition, but there have been few studies of nest location or recognition in the acorbiculate Apidae (sensu Roig-Alsina and Michener, 1993). This study