PROC. ENTOMOL. SOC. WASH. 87(2), 1985, pp. 317-322 MALE BEES SPORT BLACK MUSTACHES FOR PICKING UP PARSNIP PERFUME (HYMENOPTERA: ANTHOPHORIDAE) Beth B. Norden and Suzanne W. T. Batra (BBN) Entomology Department, University of Maryland, College Park, Mary-land 20742; (SWTB) Systematic Entomology Introduction Laboratory, Agricul-tural Research Service, USDA, Beltsville, Maryland 20705. Abstract.— GTOups of males of the nearctic Anthophora abrupta Say (Apoidea: Anthophorini) chew parsnip tissue, collect the odorous juice in unique adsorptive labral mustaches of fine, flattened hairs, and apply it to surrounding objects, apparently mixed with their mandibular gland secretion. Such perfumed areas outline an oval flight path. This resembles the fragrance-collecting and territorial behavior of male neotropical orchid bees (Apidae: Euglossinae). The neotropical orchid bees (Apidae: Euglossinae) are well known for the un-usual behavior of the males that collect fragrances from flowers and elsewhere. Using special pads of adsorptive hairs on their front feet, they brush the surface, then pack the collected fragrance into special hair-lined cavities in their hind tibiae. These perfumes are evidently used to maintain territories (Dodson, 1973; Dressier, 1982). The fragrances may also be sequestered for use in producing male mandibular gland attractant pheromones (Williams and Whitten, 1983). Similar behavior, not previously known among any other bees, is here reported to occur in the nearctic species, Anthophora abrupta Say (Anthophoridae: Anthophorinae). A large solitary bee, A. abrupta nests in dense aggregations in vertical clay banks or adobe walls (Prison, 1923; Rau, 1929; Norden et al., 1980; Norden, 1984). Little is known of the sexual behavior of this species. Mating was not seen at the nesting site, although occasional males followed and pounced on females returning from the field. Caged insects mated on flowers (Norden, 1984). For several years, Jean Worthley (pers. comm.) noticed A. abrupta visiting a patch of naturalized parsnips at her farm in Owings Mills, Baltimore County, Maryland. On the sunny mornings of June 15 and 17, 1982, and June 11, 14, and 21, 1984, we visited the site, where we observed and filmed the unique male behavior described here. Both years, male A. abrupta were clustering on a parsnip plant (Pastinaca sativa L.) growing in partial shade under a loblolly pine about 75 m from the nest site and 18 m from a small pool where females were ingesting water. Neighboring plants that had been previously defoliated by the bees bore many brown, necrotic lesions on their stems. Neither male nor female bees were visiting the flowers of these parsnips; nor were any bees of either sex seen on several cultivated parsnips growing in a sunny garden 50 m away. In 1983, males also visited parsnips at the shady site, but not those in the garden (J. Worthley, pers. comm.). Males, individually marked while on the parsnip, were observed to return to the plant after 1-1.5 hours.
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