Two distinct mating patterns arise in this bee species, due to the two size classes of males. The larger males (majors) will patrol the emergence areas of the female bees. Meanwhile, the smaller class of male bee, the minors, patrol the outer perimeter of the emergence area, and wait to mate with females who escape the vicinity of their emergence holes without having mated with a major male. 80% of the male population in "A. dawsoni" is made up of minors, despite the fact that 90% of females mate with the major bees. When a male locates a receptive female bee, he will mount her back, and ride her over to the nearest available vegetation, after which he will begin copulation, which occurs in 3 phases. In the first phase, the male will mount the female and will flicker his wings. In the second phase, upon insertion of the male genitalia, the male will rapidly thrust for a few seconds. After this, he will enter the third phase, where he will disengage his genitalia and will probe the external female genitalia. After this, copulation is complete. Female bees will rarely mate more than once – this causes fierce competition between males for mating opportunities. Female bees of this species indicate sexual receptiveness with a mixture of semiochemicals, signalling chemicals. Cuticular hydrocarbons, long chained fatty acids implicated in the prevention of insect desiccation, have also been implicated in the process of sexual signaling. Emergent virgin "A. dawsoni" females release a particular mix of CHCs to indicate their receptivity to patrolling males. This blend includes significant amounts of tricosane, pentacosane and heptacosane. This receptivity blend improves fitness for females, who can signal receptivity to mating, and induce competition, such that the strongest competitors with the best phenotypes and genotypes, will father their broods. Male ability to recognize these signals also allows for males to reduce energy wasted by approaching emerging male bees, or to engage in competition with other males over already mated females. Upon mating, the female "A. dawsoni" will begin a chemical shift to indicate that she is no longer receptive to mating attempts. Then she will begin the nesting phase of her life cycle. This shift takes some time. Therefore, recently mated females are still attractive to patrolling bees, and must actively resist copulation. The shift involves actively repressing the production of the receptivity chemicals, and creating a chemical called tetramethylhexadecatrienol, which is unique to nesting females.