Opportunistic exploitation of a bee’s (Rhodanthidium sticticum (Fabricius, 1787) (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae)) regurgitated nectar as a food resource by Plagiolepis pygmaea (Latreille, 1798) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

[Explotación oportunista del néctar regurgitado de una abeja (Rhodanthidium sticticum (Fabricius, 1787) (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae)) como recurso alimentario por Plagiolepis pygmaea (Latreille, 1798) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)]

Joan Díaz Calafat

Abstract

Opportunistic exploitation of a male Rhodanthidium sticticum (Fabricius, 1787) regur- gitated nectar as food resource by a worker of Plagiolepis pygmaea (Latreille, 1798) is reported. To the author’s knowledge, this is the first time that an exploitation of such re- source is described. It is discussed whether this is just a random event or part of the ant associative learning triggered by repeated conditioning through the territorial behaviour of the bee.