Genus of bees
Eulaema is a genus of large-bodied euglossine bees that occur primarily in the Neotropics. They are robust brown or black bees, hairy or velvety, and often striped with yellow or orange, typically resembling bumblebees. They lack metallic coloration as occurs in the related genus "Eufriesea".
Distribution.
"Eulaema" is found from Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil), Misiones (Argentina) and Paraguay to northern Mexico with occasional strays into the United States.
Behavior.
Like other euglossine bees, male "Eulaema" gather and store scents to attract females. Scientists use different mixes of scents to study these bees, including eugenol, cineole, vanillin, skatole and methyl salicylate. However, this list is not exhaustive. After collecting scents, males choose a branch or tree trunk in an area with more open canopy to make their displays. These displays consist of bouts of movement and buzzing before returning to their perch or mating. When they are not foraging and collecting scents, males may reuse refugia, like flowers, for sleeping. Females nest in tree hollows, buildings, or soil banks, with some reports of cooperative nesting. They collect nectar, pollen, and nest building materials such as mud, resin, and fecal matter to provision their young and build nests. Interestingly, scientists report a wide range of social habits in reproductive females. Some live in solitary nests while others live in large groups. One study reported a nest including two different species. There is not current evidence that generations overlap. So, it is unlikely that daughters stay in the nest to help rear more sisters or their own daughters. Despite their behavioral plasticity, "Eulaema" females are not eusocial. Daughters and sons leave the nest and reproduce separately, starting the cycle anew. While "Eulaema" generally reproduce year-round, local fluctuations in climate affect abundance and activity. For those interested in learning more, "Eulaema meriana" is a good species to start with.
References.
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