Orchid Bees Blend Feces and Flowers into Mating Cologne

Quick Take

• Male orchid bees don't fight for mates. Instead, they do something far stranger that puts human perfumers to shame. How scent replaces rivalry →
• A bee's cologne can include rotting wood and feces, which females find irresistible for a surprisingly logical reason. Explore the strange ingredients →
• Male orchid bees carry a hidden body part specifically designed for scent collection, and it turns out to be something quite unexpected. See the hidden storage organ →

The insect world is full of strange and bizarre mating rituals. From dancing to decapitating a mate, there’s no shortage of unusual behaviors. Orchid bees also have strange mating customs, but not in the way you might expect. Rather than displaying aggression and fighting for dominance, males approach their mates with a different tactic.

Scent is a strong motivator, and orchid bees have learned to take full advantage of it. Males lure potential mates with a tailor-made smell, and the process is oddly romantic.

“Bee Mine”: Why Scent Is So Intoxicating

Orchid bees are native to Central and South American rainforests. There are roughly 200 species that inhabit the tropical lowlands, and the green orchid bee (Euglossa dilemma) even has an established colony in South Florida. These habitats are lush and full of exotic, strong-smelling flora. While the pollen is what draws most bees, male orchid bees are also attracted to the scent of each blossom.

Their specialized antennae are packed with odorant receptors, which help them smell things from miles away. And while this gives them a good idea of where to find pollen, it also alerts them to rotting wood and even fungi. Their sense of smell is their most powerful tool, and scientists believe it has only continued to evolve over time.

A study published in the Journal of Experimental Biology revealed that this olfactory tuning has strengthened over the course of bee evolution. Observations prove that they are highly specific when choosing flowers, particularly during mating season. However, the reason for this isn’t that they’re looking for a certain type of pollen. Male orchid bees seek out specific scents to mix their own personal scents. A bee perfume, perfectly suited for their future mate—or so they hope.

The Magic Of Making Orchid Bee Perfume

As it turns out, humans do have something in common with orchid bees. Both species appreciate smelling good and actually mix their own scents. While we humans do so with essential oils, orchid bees prefer to gather scents from their surroundings. This results in a mixed bag of smells that might not be appealing to us but are highly appealing to female orchid bees.

While we may never know what a female orchid bee finds most appealing, we do know that there is a hierarchy of scents. Some are preferred over others, and through observation, scientists have found that certain scents imply higher quality than others. In a way, this is similar to a human recognizing an expensive perfume or cologne over a more affordable one.

Scents can come from anywhere, including orchid flowers, rotting wood, plant wounds, and even feces. Each one of these items sends a message about the bee “wearing” the scent. It can alert a female to how far the male has traveled, where he’s from, and even how hard he’ll work to find scents that are more unique than others. For an orchid bee, an entire story lies within the “perfume” its partner decides to wear.

How Are These Bee Scents Created?

To mix a custom blend, orchid bees don’t simply roll around in a flower blossom. They have specialized hollow pockets on their legs for storing scents. When a male lands on a scent he wants to capture, the chemical compounds from that scent are stored in his leg pouches. Male orchid bees can mix dozens to hundreds of different scents, depending on the species, creating an extremely complex perfume.

As males put the finishing touches on their custom cologne, they fly into the mating zone. For females, it comes down to finding the most appealing scent. Male bees that have put in the effort to create complex scents are more likely to pair with a female. This mating ritual is one instance where effort counts, especially when it comes to crafting a signature smell.

To help the female notice their scent, male orchid bees often flutter their wings rapidly. This wafts the smell toward passing females and helps cover the most ground possible. Scientists also believe that a male’s scent conveys other details to females, including indicators of overall health and stamina. As a result, males with the best-smelling “perfume” are usually the ones who mate first.