Oriental orchid (Cymbidium pumilum) attracts drones of the Japanese honeybee (Apis cerana japonica) as pollinators.
The discovery that drones of the Japanese honeybee (Apis cerana japonica) pollinate the oriental orchid (Cymbidium pumilum) is reported. Drones are attracted to the orchid flower aroma mainly during their mating flights in April through May. Some drones cluster on the flower racemes and others insert their heads deep into the flowers. Drones with pollinia on their scutellum visit other orchids, which facilitates pollination. Individual workers and swarming colonies are also strongly attracted by the flower aroma, but the allopatric western honeybee (Apis mellifera) is not attracted.
Sasaki
M
M
Institute of Honeybee Science, Tamagawa University, Tokyo, Japan.
Ono
M
M
Asada
S
S
Yoshida
T
T
D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000502:physiology*; D010675:Pheromones; D018521:Plant Physiological Phenomena; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry; D011058:Pollen
D010675:Pheromones