Australian native bees foraging from <i>Persoonia oblongata</i> (Proteaceae)

Bees in the subgenera <i>Leioproctus (Cladocerapis) </i>and <i>Leioproctus (Filiglossa) </i>(Hymenoptera: Colletidae) have morphological modifications that assist foraging from <i>Persoonia</i> flowers. The behaviour of these bees has been described in detail (Maynard, 1994, 1995; Bernhardt &amp; Weston, 1996), but video recordings provide useful confirmation and, in this case, illustrate how flower habit can affect minor aspects of behaviour. On the pendulous flowers of <i>Persoonia oblongata, </i><i>L. (Cladocerapis)</i> species press their faces against the anthers, not the style, when foraging for nectar. Although <i>L. (Filiglossa) </i>bees are widely believed to be too small to be effective pollinators, on <i>P. oblongata </i>they pass directly over the relatively short style when moving from one anther to another. <br>Other bees visit <i>Persoonia</i> flowers, but many collect only nectar and few spend very long on the flowers.<br> <br> Bernhardt P &amp; Weston PH. 1996 The pollination ecology of <i>Persoonia</i> (Proteaceae) in eastern Australia. <i>Telopea</i> <b>6</b>, 775–804. Maynard GV. 1994. Revision of <i>Leioproctus (Filiglossa)</i> Rayment (Hymenoptera: Colletidae). <i>Journal of the Australian Entomological Society</i> <b>33</b>, 299–304. Maynard GV. 1995. Pollinators of Australian Proteaceae. In: Flora of Australia Vol 16 (ed. P. McCarthy) pp.<b> </b>30–36. CSIRO, Melbourne.