Eulaema meriana
Species of bee / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Eulaema meriana is a large-bodied bee species in the tribe Euglossini, otherwise known as the orchid bees. The species is a solitary bee and is native to tropical Central and South America.[1] The male collects fragrances from orchid flowers, which it stores in hollows in its hind legs. Orchids can be deceptive by mimicking the form of a female and her sex pheromone, thus luring male bees or wasps.[2] Pollination will take place as the males attempt to mate with the labellum, or the tip petal of the flower.[3] Male E. meriana are territorial and have a particular perch on a tree trunk where it displays to attract a female.[4] After mating, the female builds a nest with urn-shaped cells made with mud, feces, and plant resin, and provisions these with nectar and pollen before laying an egg in each.[5] These bees also have complex foraging and wing buzzing behaviors and are part of a mimicry complex.[1][6]
Eulaema meriana | |
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Eulaema meriana female on a flower of the Brazil nut tree (Bertholletia excelsa) | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Hymenoptera |
Family: | Apidae |
Genus: | Eulaema |
Species: | E. meriana |
Binomial name | |
Eulaema meriana (Olivier, 1789) | |
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Synonyms | |
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