Territoriality is just an option: allocation of a resource fundamental to the resource defense polygyny in the European wool carder bee, Anthidium manicatum (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae)

Abstract The wool carder bee Anthidium manicatum is one textbook example of resource defense polygyny among solitary bees, known for intense male–male competition, forced copulations, and the extreme form interspecific territoriality toward other flower visitors. This mating system depends on spatial structure defended requires several adaptations in males. allocation patches with host plants as well male body size phenology was analyzed over 3 years diverse habitat a botanical garden. males searched groups up to 12 individuals wide diversity various food foraging females. Territories were established small high-quality only. Males abandoned aggressive territorial behavior large patches. Available occupied by fractions independently each according patch profitability. higher competitive weight compared spacious ones balanced an opposing correlation Although A. clearly polygyny, found be plastic their behavior, not consistently observed. Mate acquiring tactics, they territory holder (bourgeois), sneaker, floater, or scrambler mating, can considered different behavioral phenotypes within environmentally sensitive conditional strategy. Significance statement Territoriality rare derived pattern behavior. In most cases territoriality, defend rendezvous places meet freshly emerged, virgin While this type fits still into framework ancestral monandry aculeate Hymenoptera, continually polyandric genus highly derived. occupy resources exploited larval provisions extort copulations from provisioning nesting does lead monopolization females, exclusion many competitors reproduction, reduction sperm competition typical resource-based systems. Contrary, promiscuous species both females are lifelong engaged multiple mates. Also, fundamental more fairly than expected. study diversifies anthidiine bees demonstrates unusually high plasticity species.