Australian native bees foraging from Persoonia oblongata (Proteaceae)

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