NONFLORAL SOURCES OF CHEMICALS THAT ATTRACT MALE EUGLOSSINE BEES (APIDAE, EUGLOSSINI)

We present chemical analysis of four rotten or fungus-infected logs th at attracted fragrance-collecting male euglossine bees. Eight of the 1 0 volatile compounds detected have never been found in the fragrances of orchids pollinated by male euglossine bees. Nonfloral sources of ch emicals such as rotting wood may constitute an important fragrance res ource for male bees. Since rotten lags produce large quantities of che micals over long periods of time, such nonfloral sources might be more important than flowers as a source of certain fragrances for some eug lossine bee species. Fragrance collecting in euglossine bees might hav e evolved originally in relation with rotting wood rather than flowers .