Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Conditional sex allocation in the Red Mason bee, Osmia rufa

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Trivers' and Willard's hypothesis that natural selection favors sex allocation in relation to maternal condition assumes iteropary. Though this assumption is not met in most solitary Aculeata, the reproductive life span of semelparous females may be divided into discrete successive cycles by the risk of open-cell parasitism. Females can avoid losing their investment to parasites attacking the open cell only by limiting the provision time for each cell. The restriction of time available for the investment in a single progeny irrespective of the condition of the female leads to de facto iteropary. Moreover, in Hymenoptera, there are no costs for sex allocation due to the haplodiploid mode of sex determination. In sexually size dimorphic species, females in poor condition are predicted to invest in the smaller sex and vice versa. The resulting prediction of a conditional sex allocation in solitary Aculeata was tested in the Red Mason bee, Osmia rufa (Osmia bicornis), a stem or hole-nesting, polylectic, univoltine megachilid bee. Body size is a key component of condition in females of nest-constructing solitary bees. Large females collect the same amount of pollen and nectar in a shorter time than small ones and should suffer less from parasitism. We found that small females dealt with their handicap of a low provisioning performance by shifting the sex ratio toward sons (the smaller sex) and by reducing the body size of daughters. Large females, however, shifted their offspring sex ratio toward daughters, the sex that depends more on body size in its reproductive value. The sex ratio in the population met the expected Fisherian sex ratio. Although females allocated their investment in the sexes according to their body mass, the population-level investment was balanced.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Agresti A (2002) Categorical data analysis. Wiley series in probability and statistics, 2nd edn. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Alcock J (1979) The relation between female body size and provisioning behavior in the bee Centris pallida. J Kansas Entomol Soc 52:623–632

    Google Scholar 

  • Alcock J (1980) Natural selection and mating systems of solitary bees. Am Scientist 68:146–153

    Google Scholar 

  • Alcock J (1990) Body size and territorial behavior in the bee Protoxaea gloriosa (Fox) (Hymenoptera: Oxaeidae). Pan-Pac Entomol 66:157–161

    Google Scholar 

  • Alcock J, Eickwort GC, Eickwort KR (1977) The reproductive behavior of Anthidium maculosum (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) and the evolutionary significance of multiple copulations by females. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2:385–396

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bosch J (2008) Production of undersized offspring in a solitary bee. Anim Behav 75:809–816

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bosch J, Kemp WP (2004) Effect of pre-wintering and wintering temperature regimes on weight loss, survival, and emergence time in the mason bee Osmia cornuta (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). Apidologie 35:469–479

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bosch J, Vicens N (2002) Body size as an estimator of production costs in a solitary bee. Ecol Entomol 27:129–137

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bosch J, Vicens N (2005) Sex allocation in the solitary bee Osmia cornuta: do females behave in agreement with Fisher’s theory? Behav Ecol Sociobiol 59:124–132

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bosch J, Vicens N (2006) Relationship between body size, provisioning rate, lengevity and reproductive success in females of the solitary bee Osmia cornuta. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 60:26–33

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brockmann HJ, Grafen A (1989) Mate conflict and male behaviour in a solitary wasp, Trypoxylon (Trypargilum) politum (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae). Anim Behav 37:232–255

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carranza F (2002) What did Trivers and Willard really predict? Anim Behav 63:F1–F3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Charnov EL (1982) The theory of sex allocation. Monographs in population biology. Princeton University Press, Princeton, p 18

    Google Scholar 

  • Danforth BN (1990) Provisioning behavior and the estimation of investment ratios in a solitary bee, Calliopsis (Hypomarotera) persimilis (Cockerell) (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae). Behav Ecol Sociobiol 27:159–168

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Danforth BN, Visscher PK (1993) Dynamics of a host–cleptoparasite relationship: Holcopasites ruthae as a parasite of Calliopsis pugionis (Hymenoptera: Anthophoridae, Andrenidae). Ann Entomol Soc Am 86:833–840

    Google Scholar 

  • Fisher RA (1958) The genetical theory of natural selection, 2nd edn. Dover, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Frank SA (1995) Sex allocation in solitary bees and wasps. Am Nat 146:316–323

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freeman BE (1981a) Parental investment, maternal size and population dynamics of a solitary wasp. Am Nat 117:357–362

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freeman BE (1981b) Parental investment and its ecological consequences in the solitary wasp Sceliphron assimile (Dahlbohm) (Sphecidae). Behav Ecol Sociobiol 9:261–268

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frohlich DR, Tepedino VJ (1986) Sex ratio, parental investment, and interparent variability in nesting success in a solitary bee. Evolution 40:142–151

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gerber HS, Klostermeyer EC (1970) Sex control by bees: a voluntary act of sex fertilization during oviposition. Science 167:82–84

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Helms KR (1994) Sexual size dimorphism and sex ratios in bees and wasps. Am Nat 143:418–434

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holm SN (1973) Osmia rufa L. (Hym. Megachilidae) as a pollinator of plants in greenhouses. Ent Scand 4:217–224

    Google Scholar 

  • Ivanov SP (2006) The nesting of Osmia rufa (L.) (Hymenoptera, Megachilidae) in the Crimea: structure and composition of nests. Entomol Rev 86:524–533

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson MD (1988) The relationship of provision weight to adult weight and sex ratio in the solitary bee Ceratina calcarata. Ecol Entomol 13:165–170

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kenward MG, Roger JH (1997) Small sample inference for fixed effects from restricted maximum likelihood. Biometrics 53:983–997

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kim J-Y (1997) Female size and fitness in the leaf-cutter bee Megachile apicalis. Ecol Entomol 22:275–282

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim J-Y (1999) Influence of resource level on maternal investment in a leaf-cutter bee (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). Behav Ecol 10:552–556

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim J-Y, Thorp RW (2001) Maternal investment and size-number trade-off in a bee, Megachile apicalis, in seasonal environments. Oecologia 126:451–456

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klostermeyer EC, Mech SJ, Rasmussen WB (1973) Sex and weight of Megachile rotundata (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) progeny associated with provision weights. J Kans Entomol Soc 46:536–548

    Google Scholar 

  • Krombein KV (1967) Trap-nesting wasps and bees: life histories, nests, and associates. Smithonian, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • Krunić M, Stanisavljević L, Pinzauti M, Felicioli A (2005) The accompanying fauna of Osmia cornuta and Osmia rufa and effective measures of protection. Bull Insect 58:141–152

    Google Scholar 

  • Larsson FK (1990) Female body size relationships with fecundity and egg size in two solitary species of fossorial Hymenoptera (Colletidae and Sphecidae). Entomol Generalis 15:167–171

    Google Scholar 

  • Leimar O (1996) Life-history analysis of the Trivers and Willard sex-ratio problem. Behav Ecol 7:316–325

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maddocks R, Paulus HF (1987) Quantitative Aspekte der Brutbiologie von Osmia rufa L. und Osmia cornuta Latr. (Hymenoptera, Megachilidae): Eine vergleichende Untersuchung zu Mechanismen der Konkurrenzminderung zweier nahverwandter Bienenarten. Zool Jahrb, Abt System, Ökol Geogr Tiere 114:15–44

    Google Scholar 

  • Marshall DJ, Bonduriansky R, Bussière LF (2008) Offspring size variation within broods as a bet-hedging strategy in unpredictable environments. Ecology 89:2506–2517

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Molumby A (1997) Why make daughters larger? Maternal sex-allocation and sex-dependent selection for body size in a mass-provisioning wasp, Trypoxylon politum. Behav Ecol 8:279–287

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O'Neill KM (1983) The significance of body size in territorial interactions of male beewolves (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae). Can J Zool 63:2187–2193

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O'Neill KM, Evans HE, O'Neill RP (1989) Phenotypic correlates of mating success in the sand wasp Bembecinus quinquespinosus (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae). Can J Zool 67:2557–2568

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peruquetti RC, Del Lama MA (2003) Sex allocation and sex-dependent selection for body size in Trypoxylon rogenhoferi Kohl (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae). Rev Bras Entomol 47:581–588

    Google Scholar 

  • Peterson JH, Roitberg BD (2006) Impacts of flight distance on sex ratio and resource allocation to offspring in the leafcutter bee, Megachile rotundata. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 59:589–596

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Phillips JK, Klostermeyer EC (1978) Nesting behavior of Osmia lignaria propinqua Cresson, (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). J Kansas Entomol Soc 51:91–108

    Google Scholar 

  • Piepho HP, Möhring J (2006) Selection in cultivar trials—is it ignorable? Crop Sci 46:192–201

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raw A (1972) The biology of the solitary bee Osmia rufa (L.) (Megachilidae). Trans R Ent Soc Lond 124:213–229

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenheim JA, Nonacs P, Mangel M (1996) Sex ratios and multifaceted parental investment. Am Nat 148:501–535

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • SAS Institute Inc (2008) SAS/STAT 9.2 user’s guide. Cary

  • Seidelmann K (1990) Zur Parasitenkontrolle in Stammzuchten der Roten Mauerbiene Osmia rufa (L.). Wiss Z M-Luther-Univ Halle-Wittenberg, Math-Naturwiss R 39:25–34

    Google Scholar 

  • Seidelmann K (1995) Untersuchungen zur Reproduktionsbiologie der Roten Mauerbiene, Osmia rufa (L., 1758) (Dissertation). M.-Luther-Universität, Halle

  • Seidelmann K (1999) The race for females: the mating system of the red mason bee, Osmia rufa (L.) (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). J Insect Behav 12:13–25

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seidelmann K (2006) Open-cell parasitism shapes maternal investment patterns in the Red Mason bee Osmia rufa. Behav Ecol 17:839–848

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Severinghaus LL, Kurtak BH, Eickwort GC (1981) The reproductive behavior of Anthidium manicatum (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) and the significance of size for territorial males. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 9:51–58

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith CC, Fretwell SD (1974) The optimal balance between size and number of offspring. Am Nat 108:499–506

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strickler K (1982) Parental investment per offspring by a specialist bee: does it change seasonally? Evolution 36:1098–1100

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strohm E (2000) Factors affecting body size and fat content in a digger wasp. Oecologia 123:184–191

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strohm E, Linsenmair KE (1997a) Female size affects provisioning and sex allocation in a digger wasp. Anim Behav 54:23–34

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Strohm E, Linsenmair KE (1997b) Low resource availability causes extremely male-biased investment ratios in the European beewolf, Philanthus triangulum F. (Hymenoptera, Specidae). Proc R Soc Lond B 264:423–429

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strohm E, Daniels H, Warmers C, Stoll C (2002) Nest provisioning and a possible cost of reproduction in the megachilid bee Osmia rufa studied by a new observation method. Ethol Ecol Evol 14:255–268

    Google Scholar 

  • Stubblefield JW, Seger J (1994) Sexual dimorphism in the Hymenoptera. In: Short RV, Balaban E (eds) The differences between the sexes. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 71–103

    Google Scholar 

  • Sugiura N (1991) Male territoriality and mating tactics in the woolcarder bee, Anthidium septemspinosum Lepeletier (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). J Ethol 9:95–103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sugiura N, Maeta Y (1989) Parental investment and offspring sex ratio in a solitary mason bee, Osmia cornifrons (Radoszkowski) (Hymenoptera, Megachilidae). Japan J Entomol 57:861–875

    Google Scholar 

  • Tasei J-N (1973) Le comportement de nidification chez Osmia (Osmia) cornuta Latr. et Osmia (Osmia) rufa L. (Hymenoptera Megachilidae). Apidologie 4:195–225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tepedino VJ, Torchio PF (1982) Phenotypic variability in nesting success among Osmia lignaria propinqua females in a glasshouse environment (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). Ecol Entomol 7:453–462

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tepedino VJ, Torchio PF (1989) The influence of nest-hole selection on sex ratio and progeny size in Osmia lignaria propinqua (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). Ann Entomol Soc Am 82:355–360

    Google Scholar 

  • Thornhill R, Alcock J (1983) The evolution of insect mating systems. Harvard University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Tomkins JL, Simmons LW, Alcock J (2001) Brood-provisioning strategies in Dawson's burrowing bee, Amegilla dawsoni (Hymenoptera: Anthophorini). Behav Ecol Sociobiol 50:81–89

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Torchio PF, Tepedino VJ (1980) Sex ratio, body size and seasonality in a solitary bee, Osmia lignaria propinqua Cresson (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). Evolution 34:993–1003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trivers RL, Willard DE (1973) Natural selection of parental ability to vary the sex ratio of offspring. Science 179:90–92

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ulbrich K, Seidelmann K (2001) Modeling population dynamics of solitary bees in relation to habitat quality. Web Ecology 2:57–64

    Google Scholar 

  • Wcislo WT, Minckley RL, Spangler HC (1992) Pre-copulatory courtship behavior in a solitary bee, Nomia triangulifera Vachal (Hymenoptera: Halictidae). Apidologie 23:431–442

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We are very grateful to H. Ruhnke for her assistance in the field work. We wish to thank Bryan Danforth and anonymous reviewers for their comments on the manuscript. This work was supported by a grant from the Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung—UFZ.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Karin Ulbrich

    Present address: Department Biozönoseforschung, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung—UFZ, Theodor-Lieser-Strasse 4, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Biologie/Zoologie, Abteilung Tierphysiologie, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle, 06099, Halle (Saale), Germany

    Karsten Seidelmann

  2. Institut für Agrar und Ernährungswissenschaften, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle, Adam-Kuckhoff-Str. 35, 06099, Halle (Saale), Germany

    Norbert Mielenz

Authors
  1. Karsten Seidelmann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Karin Ulbrich
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Norbert Mielenz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Karsten Seidelmann.

Additional information

Communicated by O. Rueppell

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Seidelmann, K., Ulbrich, K. & Mielenz, N. Conditional sex allocation in the Red Mason bee, Osmia rufa . Behav Ecol Sociobiol 64, 337–347 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-009-0850-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-009-0850-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation