A conceptual diagram illustrating how two sympatric Lysimachia species (L. congestiflora and L. stenosepala) avoid reproductive interference while sharing an oligolectic oil-collecting bee (Macropis omeiensis) (IMAGE)

Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences

A conceptual diagram illustrating how two sympatric Lysimachia species (L. congestiflora and L. stenosepala) avoid reproductive interference while sharing an oligolectic oil-collecting bee (Macropis omeiensis)

Caption

Oil-collecting bees of the genus Macropis in Asia specialize on both oil-offering (Lysimachia congestiflora) and nectar-bearing (L. stenosepala) congeners. A new study shows for the first time in Asia that male Macropis bees exclusively visit nectar-bearing flowers as highly efficient pollinators, while reward divergence and spatial pollen partitioning prevent interspecific reproductive interference.

Credit

Bai-Zhu Li and Shuang-Quan Huang

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