Male strategies and mating behavior in the Neotropical bee Epicharis (Anepicharis) dejeanii (Apidae: Centridini)

This study describes the mating behavior of Epicharis dejeanii and evaluates the reproductive strategies employed by males during the reproductive period. Samples were collected in an aggregation of E. dejeanii nests, located in southern Brazil. Observations on mating behavior and male patrols were performed for 37 days, from 06:00 to 18:00, during two reproductive periods, in the wet-warm season. During the samplings, males patrolling and/or copulating with E. dejeanii females were collected and used for morphometric measurements. Males were active in November and December when they showed two mating patrol strategies: i) flyover near the ground; (ii) flights over trees (at heights of approximately 2.5 m and distant about 2 to 5 m from nesting aggregation). The results revealed a greater head width and intertegular distance among males patrolling above the plants, suggesting that the adopted patrol strategy has an association with the body size of males. However, both strategies were effective in copulation success. The males demonstrated a peak of activity in the patrol for females between 9:00 and 11:30 hours, which coincided with the period of greatest emergence of females, as well as when the largest number of matings were observed.