Stimuli Eliciting Mating Behaviour of Bumblebee (Bomb Us Pratoruml.) Males

Author: Free, J.B.

Source: Behaviour, Volume 40, Numbers 1-2, 1971 , pp. 55-61(7)

Publisher: BRILL

Buy & download fulltext article:

Price: $35.00 plus tax (Refund Policy)

Abstract:

1. Males were attracted to queens presented near a visiting place, but usually ignored those offered elsewhere along a flight route. 2. A black object the size of a queen successfully elicited inspection and attempts to mate; the orange and yellow bands on a queen's body and her movements seemed not to do so. 3. The odour of a queen is important in inducing males to alight on her. Odour differences probably account for the greater attractiveness of young than old queens.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/156853971X00320

Affiliations: 1: Rothamstcd Experimental Station, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, England

Publication date: 1971-01-01