Data and code from: Chemical cues in a bee kleptoparasite trigger an evasive response in a facultative eusocial orchid bee

Brood parasites often evade host detection through chemical mimicry or chemical insignificance, whereas alternative strategies such as chemical deterrence are rarely documented. We used the host-parasite model of the orchid bee Euglossa viridissima and its specialised kleptoparasite, the megachilid Hoplostelis bivittata, to study this relationship in primitively eusocial bees. We hypothesised that H. bivittata employs a chemical strategy to enter the nest and avoid host aggression, and that response rapidity increases with chemical distance. To test this, the cuticular hydrocarbon profiles of host and parasite were first compared, followed by bioassays analysing the response of host bees to conspecifics, the kleptoparasite, and the stingless bee Melipona beecheii as a control. Bioassays involved live and frozen specimens, as well as dummies coated with parasite cuticular extracts of the different species. Notably, host E. viridissima showed aggression toward conspecifics and M. beecheii..., , # Chemical Cues in a bee Kleptoparasite Trigger an Evasive Response in a Facultative Eusocial Orchid Bee

This dataset contains data and R code used to analyse the presence of chemical deterrents in a brood parasite and the behavioural response in a facultative eusocial orchid bee (*Euglossa viridissima*).

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## 📁 Contents

### Data Files

| File Name | Description |
| -------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `GlobalCHCPeakAreas_newMbeecheeii_individuals.csv` | Raw peak area data for all 34 cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) compounds across all individuals. |
| `AlkenesPeakAreas_v2.csv` | Peak areas of monoene (alkene) compounds in CHC profiles (subset of global CHC data). |
| ..., ,