the orange-breasted falcon ( falco deiroleucus ) is a bird of the falcon family .

it is probably closely related to and looks like a larger version of the bat falcon .

these two , in turn , are probably closest to the aplomado falcon and constitute a rather old american lineage of falcos .

it is found from southern mexico to northern argentina .

it 's a medium-sized falcon at 35 – 40 cm ( 14 – 15.5 in ) long and a weight of 325 – 700 grams ( 11 ounces – 1 pound 9 ounces ) .

it is a bird predator , with strong talons that enable it to catch prey in flight , and is considered by some – such as the german-brazilian ornithologist helmut sick – as filling the ecological niche of the peregrine falcon as a breeding species in tropical america .

the orange-breasted falcon , however , seems to favor more heavily wooded habitats than the peregrine , therefore the species does not seem to be in ecological competition with peregrine falcons wintering or breeding in south america .

the orange-breasted falcon has a similar plumage to the much smaller bat falcon and is generally considered most closely related to that species now .

orange - breasted falcon

read more about orange - breasted falcon biology , natural history , and conservation at the orange - breasted falcon account on neotropical birds .
nobody uploaded sound recordings for orange - breasted falcon ( falco deiroleucus ) yet .
the orange - breasted falcon looks very similar to the smaller bat falcon . people often confuse the two species , making it hard for biologists to confirm reports of the much rarer orange - breasted falcon .
relative to its body size , the orange - breasted falcon appears to have the largest feet of any falcon . it also has an unusually large beak .
orange - breasted falcons usually reach breeding age at around 2 - 3 years old .
the peregrine fund captive breeding / reintroduction project and field studies . orange - breasted falcon falco deiroleucus contains extensive information on the biology and status of this species . vireo orange - breasted falcon photos . aves de rapina do brasil species account wirh emphasis on brazil .
a female orange - breasted falcon flies around the temple of the grand jaguar under the light of the super moon in a heavy fog and mist .
recommended citation : global raptor information network . 2018 . species account : orange - breasted falcon falco deiroleucus . downloaded from urltoken on 9 jul . 2018
orange - breasted falcon is a raptor of the neotropics whose range historically stretched from southern mexico through northern argentina . it now is found only locally throughout its expansive range , with most current observations coming from a few well - known nesting locations . never considered common anywhere , orange - breasted falcon’s current abundance and distribution are clouded by confusion with the similarly - plumaged bat falcon ( falco rufigularis ) ; many purported records of orange - breasted falcons outside their known localities may pertain to that species .
in central america , the orange - breasted falcon is absent everywhere south of belize and guatemala and found again only in panama . its absence from many countries that contain seemingly suitable habitat is one of the greatest mysteries of falcon and neotropical bird conservation .
the orange - breasted falcon is a brilliantly colored medium - sized falcon of the contiguous neotropical forest , arguably the most beautiful species of falcon , and the holy grail for many tropical birders . it has always been rare and may be the most sparsely distributed falcon in the world , with its abundance and distribution clouded by confusion with the much more common and similarly plumaged bat falcon . the international union for conservation of nature lists the orange - breasted falcon as “near threatened” globally in its red list of threatened species . once ranging from southern mexico through middle and south america , the species is now regionally endangered or extirpated in central america ( berry et al . ) .
robert b . berry has been studying orange - breasted falcons since the early 1990s . a lifelong falconer , he played a significant role in the recovery of the north american peregrine falcon in the 1970s and ’80s .
cover image : bathed by a gentle breeze in the early morning light , a wild - born juvenile orange - breasted falcon waits for her captive - bred father to bring food . photo by robert b . berry .
the peregrine fund ' s world center for birds of prey is a great place to get a close - up look at the orange - breasted falcon , one of the most colorful falcons in the world . on display at our velma morrison interpretive center , orange - breasted falcons delight visitors with their bright orange breast , large yellow feet and slaty black backs . visit us to learn all about this neotropical raptor and the rainforest habitat in which it lives .
the black - and - white hawk - eagle might be the greatest threat to juvenile orange - breasted falcons , both wild and captive - bred . this spectacular species is widespread from mexico to argentina but is uncommon and secretive in the mountain pine ridge of belize . it is extremely rare in guatemala—which , by itself , may account for the stability of the country’s small orange - breasted falcon population .
call . overall colouration very dark . underparts mainly orange , with black barring . iris brown ; bill dark with yellow base and cere ; legs yellow - orange .
the orange - breasted falcon female is nearly twice the size of her mate – a greater size difference than that of all other 39 falcon species . you may be wondering why there is such a large gap between the sexes . this adaptation enables the pair to select different - sized prey . the male takes smaller quarry , and the female captures larger prey . relative to its overall body size , the female orange - breasted falcon has the largest feet of any falcon and also a particularly large beak . this heavy armament provides many advantages for the species . the female’s large size , huge feet and talons and beak help her manage social relations in the family group and defend the nest from predators .
baker , a . j . , d . f . whitacre , o . a . aguirre - barrera , and c . white . 2000 . the orange - breasted falcon falco deiroleucus in mesoamerica : a vulnerable , disjunct population ? bird conservation international 10 : 29 - 40 ) .
orange - breasted falcon four - year - old superstar b1’s calm demeanor assures his wild - born and adopted progeny that it is safe to “play . ” despite his constant vigil and aggressive defense , he is unable to protect all of the young falcons . photo by robert b . berry .
berry , r . b . , c . w . benkman , a . muela , y . seminario , and m . curti . 2010 . isolation and decline of a population of the orange - breasted falcon . condor , vol . 112 , no . 3 : 479 - 487 .
there’s a single chick in the nest , ” aaron radioed as he hung from a rope on a lofty cliff in belize . “should we take it ? ” he had climbed hundreds of feet down to an orange - breasted falcon eyrie to retrieve fledglings on behalf of the peregrine fund for experimental captive propagation .
peregrine fund biologists have been studying the orange - breasted falcon since 1978 , initially in ecuador and peru and then in belize and guatemala . our biologists have worked very hard to find these falcons in central america , searching on foot , by plane and by helicopter . during one survey over a two - year period ( 1999 - 2000 ) , they checked nearly 400 cliffs but never saw a single orange - breasted falcon in honduras , nicaragua , el salvador , or costa rica . this confirmed that the small declining population in belize and guatemala is isolated by almost 1 , 000 miles from the larger population in south america .
the author feeds falcon chicks ranging in age from one day to 40 days old . photo by carol berry .
important references : baker , a . j . , d . f . whitacre , and o . agruirre . 2012 . orange - breasted falcon . pp . 296 - 312 in d . f . whitacre ( ed . ) , neotropical birds of prey : biology and ecology of a forest raptor community . cornell university press , ithaca , ny . berry , r . b . , c . w . benkman , a . muela , y . seminario , and m . curti . 2010 . isolation and decline of a population of the orange - breasted falcon . condor 112 : 479 - 489 . baker , a . j . 1998 . status and breeding biology , ecology , and behavior of the orange - breasted falcon ( falco deiroleucus ) in guatemala and belize . m . sc . thesis , brigham young university , provo , ut . baker , a . j . , d . f . whitacre , o . aguirre - barrera , and c . white . 2000 . the orange - breasted falcon falco deiroleucus in mesoamerica : a vulnerable , disjunct population ? bird conservation international 10 : 29 - 40 . bierregaard , r . o . 1994 . orange - breasted falcon . p . 268 in del hoyo , j . , a . elliott , and j . sargatal ( eds ) . handbook of birds of the world . vol . 2 . new world vultures to guineafowl . lynx edicions , barcelona , spain . boyce , jr . , d . a . 1980 . hunting and pre - nesting behavior of the orange - breasted falcon . raptor research 14 : 35 - 39 . brown , l . , and d . amadon . 1968 . eagles , hawks and falcons of the world . vol . 2 . mcgraw - hill , new york . cade , t . j . 1982 . falcons of the world . cornell university press , ithaca , ny . ferguson - lees , j . , and d . a . christie .
today , we are focusing our efforts on studying the behavior , breeding and hunting habits , threats , and habitat requirements of the only known orange - breasted falcon population in northern central america . because this rare falcon appears to be largely absent from much of central america , we recognized the need to begin a captive - breeding and release program to help maintain genetic diversity and to prevent further decline . we conducted our first experimental release for this species in 2005 . in 2006 , we began a captive breeding program at our facilities in sheridan , wyoming . by 2012 , 45 orange - breasted falcons had been produced in captivity and 30 released to the wild in belize .
like many other falcon species , orange - breasted falcons are primarily bird hunters . they prey on small - to medium - sized birds , particularly doves , parakeets , and swifts . however , they also take large insects and , during dusk and pre - dawn hours , bats . they are aerial hunters , so they take all of their prey while in flight .
we believe that the orange - breasted falcon’s primary extinction drivers are habitat alteration and associated human activities , which include indiscriminate shooting , logging , agriculture , and development . these drivers interact with the impacts of human disturbance , such as increased access to remote habitat , hunting , tourism , selective logging , and collecting , further exacerbated by interactions with the bird’s natural predators .
the orange - breasted falcon is not known to nest apart from mature forest , although we do not know the point at which fragmented habitat becomes uninhabitable or why . small farms , orchards , and cattle ranches caused the abandonment of at least one historic territory and threaten others . construction of three hydroelectric dams along the macal river are implicated in the loss of two of four falcon territories . the last of these construction projects was completed in 2012 , with human traffic limited , although a massive infrastructure of power lines presents a high risk of falcon collisions and electrocutions . even well - meaning tourists may have a negative impact by disrupting nesting .
it is also helpful during the young birds ' first flights , as they often end up grounded in the dense tropical forest . if they are tame , biologists can pick them and place them in a safe spot high off the ground and away from predators . but this tameness doesn ' t last . after a week or two of flying wild , these young falcons quickly grow wary of any potential predator – including humans ! nonetheless , even wild orange - breasted falcons are naturally relatively unafraid of humans , to their detriment . another unique aspect of this falcon is the long period of time – about five months – that the juveniles depend on their parents for food . other falcon species , such as the peregrine falcon and aplomado falcon , are dependent for about half that time .
our captive orange - breasted falcon colony consists of 28 birds—11 original founders from panama , 4 from belize ( including 2 botfly - infested juveniles we rescued in 2012 ) , and their captive - bred progeny . they are maintained in spacious climate - controlled aviaries in wyoming . this species is very difficult to breed in captivity , despite the ease in breeding the related bat falcon and many other falcon species . of the 56 young produced in captivity since 2006 , all have been the product of artificial insemination . thirty - nine have been released in the mountain pine ridge area , including 5 in 2014 ; of these , 23 are thought to have become independent through 2013 .
aaron spent the next six years studying the orange - breasted falcon . his field research became the seminal life - history study of the species . he concluded that the local population was probably stable—but just barely—and part of a larger unknown population ( baker et al . 2000 ) . it was not until the end of the decade that we concluded that the northern population was very small , isolated , and in steep decline .
the orange - breasted falcon’s history in middle america is documented by only 10 museum specimens collected between 1867 and 1962 from mexico to costa rica , a few confirmed sightings , and a single breeding record . our surveys over several decades confirm that the species’ northern population is limited to the maya mountains of belize and the mirador cordillera of guatemala—an area comprising less than 4 percent of its former range in central america . orange - breasted falcons are isolated by some 1 , 500 kilometers from the closest population of not more than four pairs on the colombian border of panama , which we survey annually . despite a wide network of contributors , ebird has been unable to confirm a single central american record for this species outside our study area .
captive - bred male b1 takes flight near the hack site , watched by his wild mate , caya . the pair made history in 2013 , fledging three beautiful youngsters and proving that captive - bred orange - breasted falcons can survive and breed successfully in the wild . photo by robert b . berry .
many tropical raptors—including the closely related bat falcon—hunt within the forest canopy . the orange - breasted falcon is unique in hunting above the canopy , the most challenging environment for a bird - eating specialist . the birds have long , narrow , pointed wings , a relatively short tail , and a heavy compact body with a deep sternum , supporting powerful flight muscles . these features maximize speed as opposed to maneuverability , for preying on a wide variety of small - to - medium - sized birds and bats , which are captured in high - speed stoops when they are briefly exposed above the forest canopy or while crossing a canyon , stream , or river valley . the female orange - breasted falcon is the most heavily armed of falcons , possessing a massive , laterally compressed beak , thick powerful legs , and enormous feet relative to its body size—important attributes for grasping and quickly dispatching dangerous quarry such as parrots . males are half the size of their mates and lack their impressive armature , a difference that supports the female’s dominant role in social relations , nest defense , and exploitation of a varied prey base .
the techniques used to release young orange - breasted falcons to the wild are similar to those used for releasing aplomado falcons and other birds of prey – with several important differences . the orange - breasted falcon chicks are hand - raised in small groups by a biologist . this is to help keep them tame while they are in the hack box , where the chicks become accustomed to their new surroundings , and for a short while after they are released to the wild . this is helpful because the chicks vary quite a bit in age when they arrive at the hack site . if the chicks are tame , biologists can release the older birds while still climbing up to the box in the evening to feed the younger birds that haven ' t yet flown for the first time .
though there were probably never lots of orange - breasted falcons , the species’ range in central america today is limited to areas of belize , guatemala and panama – a very small portion of its historic range . biologists estimate the population in this region to be made up of only around 30 pairs . that isn ' t very many ! by looking at records for this species in south america since 1970 , biologists believe that this striking falcon ' s population is in trouble there , as well .
“no , ” i replied , feeling guilty about his arduous descent to the nest . “come on back up . ” taking the last young falcon from the nest would be unethical .
peregrine fund president bill burnham asked me to visit baker to explain the breeding biology of the orange - breasted falcon . i had never seen the bird , but i had lots of experience breeding falcons in captivity . early in march of 1992 , aaron and i were sprawled on a massive boulder in the middle of the macal river , in the shadow of a gigantic cliff—an irresistible ecological magnet for falcons and one of aaron’s orange - breasted falcon territories . armed with binoculars and a spotting scope , we scanned the sky for raptors . as if by magic , a male orangebreasted falcon appeared above us , spiraling effortlessly upward in the noonday thermals until it became a tiny speck . an instant later , it came plummeting earthward in a blistering vertical stoop , climaxed by streaking across the cliff face , its defiant kak - kak - kak call echoing between the towering canyon walls . then it rocketed off in a different direction to chase a black vulture and next a plumbeous kite . it was the most spectacular and inspiring aerial performance i had ever seen in a lifetime of working with falcons . what bravado and courage he showed . surely the bird was reassuring his unseen mate and serving notice that this was his domain and he was invincible .
the maya mountains of western belize and the mirador cordillera of guatemala are home to the largest and densest known orange - breasted falcon population , which includes 32 territories . seven of them have been abandoned for more than a decade . aerial surveys in 2009 and 2010 located 10 additional eyries in the rugged and remote southern maya mountains , which are only accessible by helicopter . the massif is 75 miles long by 40 miles wide with a northeast - southwest orientation extending about 20 miles into heavily developed eastern guatemala , where the falcons are absent .
perhaps the biggest threat that these falcons face is loss or change in their habitat because of practices like logging , agriculture , and development . another threat could also be the growing population of black vultures in the area . black vultures are scavengers that can eat just about anything . they are sometimes attracted to garbage dumps and tend to congregate there in large numbers , picking through the trash to find tasty morsels to eat . this means that black vultures can often be found in areas where humans are present . as people move closer and closer to orange - breasted falcon habitat , the vultures might be moving with them . black vultures might compete with these falcons for nesting cliffs and probably consume falcon eggs and young , too !
aaron spent the night at a medical clinic , soaking up antihistamines , while oscar and i sat at camp , removing each other’s stingers like a pair of chimpanzees picking lice . we waited until after dark to collect our gear at the cliff , after the bees had settled down . unaware that highly aggressive africanized bees had displaced the mild - mannered european honeybees a decade earlier , we were fortunate to escape serious injury or worse . this episode took place at belize’s thousand foot falls in 1994 , during the initial phase of our orange - breasted falcon research in central america .
our core study population is in the mountain pine ridge of the northern mountains , a small granite plateau of about 200 , 000 acres , with an elevation between 600 and 900 meters . the plateau is dominated by pines and dissected by streams and deep hardwood canyons extending into valleys with abundant limestone and granite cliffs , a few of which are occupied by orange - breasted falcons . the forest life zone is borderline tropical - subtropical moist to wet forest . both the falcon and its prey breed during the dry season , from february through may , a period with the highest temperatures and lowest rainfall .
many authors have reflected on the orange - breasted falcon’s rarity throughout its range . we believe that its specialized habitat requirements , low reproductive rate , and predation by a plethora of natural enemies are the primary causes for its historic scarcity . more recently , the cumulative effects of habitat alteration , fragmentation , human conflicts , and increasing predation may explain the catastrophic reduction in the species’ range in central america and its declining population . given the species’ ecological challenges and its apparent isolation from the little - known population in south america , the extirpation of the small population in belize and guatemala seems increasingly likely .
orange - breasted falcons have probably always been rare because of their specialized habitat : large cliffs where they nest and large areas of unbroken tropical forest where they live . historically , their range may have been from southern mexico to northern argentina . today , they occupy just 4 % of their former range in central america where a small population of fewer than 40 pairs persist in areas of belize , guatemala and panama .
there are three popular birding sites in central america where orange - breasted falcons are predictably seen : tikal national park , guatemala , and hidden valley inn & reserve and black rock river lodge in the mountain pine ridge area of belize’s northwest maya mountains . fully two - thirds of ebird’s citizen - science records in central and south america ( 292 of 427 ) come from these locations as part of our study population .
only a few decades ago , our knowledge of the orange - breasted falcon ( falco deiroleucus ) was limited to a few sight records in the literature and some sketchy notes attached to 19th and early 20th - century museum specimens and a single breeding record in tikal national park , guatemala . in 1978 , tom cade , founder and president of the peregrine fund , and biologist peter jenny assembled sparse geographic information and began searching for the species in ecuador , peru , and guatemala . from the early 1980s through 1991 , researchers conducted studies of newly located territories in guatemala and belize as part of the maya project , a nearly decade - long ( 1988 - 96 ) ecological raptor study ( see neotropical birds of prey : biology and ecology of a forest raptor community ) . graduate student aaron baker was part of the project and began the first natural - history study of the orange - breasted falcon in 1992 . he searched for cliffs by questioning local people , examining topographical maps , and exploring river valleys and areas of high relief on foot , by car , and from fixed - wing aircraft . by 1996 baker had expanded his study population to 19 territories in belize and guatemala . our present - day research and restoration program builds upon this series of earlier investigations .
aaron baker calculated that 55 percent of orange - breasted falcon nesting attempts failed and that predators caused most of the failures . the list of potential predators is enormous , from jays and toucans to hawk - eagles , owls , forest - falcons , and vultures ; mammals such as the tayra ( a large mustelid ) and rats ; arboreal snakes , insects , and parasites . prominent on the list are the black - and - white hawk - eagle , stygian owl , and black vulture . of them , the black vulture is the most ubiquitous and is increasing in numbers along with the human population . a group of vultures can overpower a falcon’s aggressive defense and consume its eggs or young . they also usurp prime nesting cliffs . more predatory than the turkey vulture and the much less common king vulture , they forage by sight , attacking and killing small animals and fledgling birds .
a group of vultures can overpower a falcon’s aggressive defense and consume its eggs or young . black vulture is the most ubiquitous and is increasing in numbers along with the human population . black vulture by jordan rolen / macaulay library .
scott newbold leads our current field team , aided by local naturalists jonathan urbina and rony jobel and our rock - climbing specialist matt allshouse . they visit orange - breasted falcon territories multiple times each season to assess occupancy and productivity . africanized bees limited our banding activities prior to 2011 , when we began using full - body bee suits despite the heat and discomfort . we use color - coded leg bands with white letters and numerals as safe and permanent markers for future demographic studies . we do not capture adults or use radio telemetry because of the inherent risks to the small , fragile population . we rely on old - fashioned fieldwork , with the aid of boots , binoculars , and bug spray !
orange - breasted falcons occupy their territories year - round and typically are found in areas of towering cliffs within vast expanses of moist tropical and subtropical mature forest in the vicinity of water . cliffs in belize and guatemala are large ( typically 125 meters high and 250 meters wide ) with obscure ledges , potholes , and crevices , which provide shade from the blazing tropical sun and safety from predators . there are few tree - nesting records , possibly because trees offer less protection from predators and the sun’s heat . the species is not known to nest in tropical savannah—suitable habitat for lookalike species such as bat and aplomado falcons . some researchers suggest that orange - breasted falcons are birds of edges , borders , and clearings adjacent to montane forest , which may offer more rewarding hunting opportunities . we have found that the species does frequent a mosaic of habitats , including farmed fields , orchards , and pasturelands—but only if mature forest is the dominant community .
these falcons are extremely fast flyers and though no study has been done to measure their speed , biologists who have observed these birds in fast pursuit believe they could even be faster than the peregrine falcon , one of the fastest animals on earth ! orange - breasted falcons use several different hunting strategies to capture their prey . the most often perch on high , exposed snags , which give them a great view over the tree canopy or adjacent valleys . once prey is spotted , they might chase their quarry in direct pursuit over the canopy , sometimes making steep climbs into the air before falling in a short stoop onto their prey . they also may pursue their dinner in a very fast horizontal tail - chase or scan the sky for swifts and other high - flying birds and go up to meet them in the air .
like most other falcons , orange - breasted falcons do not build their own nests . instead , they often make small depressions in the substrate of ledges or in crevices of cliffs or sink holes . in guatemala , biologists found a pair nesting on a mayan temple in tikal national park , and they know of one instance of this species nesting in a palm tree . in south america , biologists have documented the falcons nesting under clumps of plants growing on large trees and in natural cavities of large trees , at the base of fronds of palm trees , and on cliffs .
captive - release programs are typically employed only as a lastditch effort when species have been extirpated from all or much of their former range . but we believe that active species rescue is preferable to watchful waiting . our goal is to introduce unrelated captive - bred falcons to the local population . these individuals have the potential to enhance genetic variation , stabilize recruitment deficits , and help mitigate population declines . because dna fingerprinting indicates that the orange - breasted falcons in central and south america are a single population without subspecies , the risk of introducing maladaptive genes into the population is minimal .
species that are highly specialized ecologically and have small , isolated populations are prone to population declines and local extirpation . both territorial occupancy and productivity in our core study population in belize have dropped by half since the 1990s . the number of eyries has fallen from 12 to 6 with only 2 failed attempts to reoccupy one of the eyries . productivity in belize and guatemala was close to one young per active eyrie in the 1990s but has declined to ~ 0 . 5 since 2003 ( berry et al . 2010 ) . productivity in both countries has been highly variable in recent years with a record low of only two young fledged in 2012 , 15 in 2013 ( including 5 young with a captive - bred parent ) , and back to a more typical 8 young in 2014 fledged from 15 eyries . the maintenance level for the well - studied peregrine falcon is more than double with one or more young per active eyrie . whether an extraordinary year now and then like the one we experienced in 2013 is sufficient to sustain a long - lived species such as the orange - breasted falcon is unknown . if that good year does not materialize , the risk of entering an extinction vortex is great .
our research has revealed many of the orange - breasted falcon’s mysteries , and yet we have barely scratched the surface when it comes to fully understanding its population dynamics , the carrying capacity of its environment , its fecundity , longevity , and recruitment needs , the impacts of weather , parasites , and predators , and the consequences of anthropogenic activities . we are banding chicks to help analyze population viability and increasing fledging success by applying prophylactic treatments for parasites . we have experimented with vulture exclusion nest boxes , and we are enhancing genetic variation by introducing unrelated captive - bred falcons . but none of these initiatives is likely to succeed unless the local people embrace a strong conservation ethic . in partnership with the cornell lab of ornithology and university of wyoming , we are developing elementary school education programs in central america , focusing on the important role of raptors in the environment . we are making a difference but our success will depend on public support and enlightened future management .
two of six occupied territories in guatemala are located outside tikal national park and have no protection . they are threatened by rapidly expanding rural communities with a much higher rate of deforestation , colonization , agriculture , and subsistence hunting than in belize . even though falcon occupancy and productivity have been more stable in guatemala than belize , the inevitable correlates of human progress are likely to have a greater negative impact over time .
conservation : friedmann ( 1950 ) summarized the known history of the orange - breasted falcon with the terse comment ,
apparently nowhere numerous ,
and it remains poorly known and scarce to the present time . cade ( 1982 ) regarded it as probably the most sparsely distributed falcon in the world , and he suspected that the total population might be no more than a few thousand individuals . the reasons for its scarcity are not apparent , as noted by collar ( 1986 ) . it is clearly endangered in the northern mesoamerican portion of its range and very rare or extinct in central america south of belize and el petén , guatemala ( thorstrom et al . 2002 ) . there is little evidence to suggest that it was ever more than rare or uncommon there within historical times . it is probably more common , but still poorly known and locally distributed , in the humid lowlands and foothills of south america east of the andes . there appears to be no reason to suspect a population decline at this time , other than locally due to habitat loss , but the low population size in northern central america ( the only area where it has been relatively well studied ) and its absence from other apparently suitable areas are causes for vigilance . it is ominous that peter jenny visited many of the known specimen localities for this species in the early 1980s , but found suitable forest habitat remaining at only one of them ( cade 1982 ) . collar et al . ( 1994 ) considered this to be a globally near threatened species , but it iwas still categorized as a species of
least concern
by birdlife international . in 2012 , however , birdlife changed its status to near threatened . more . . . .
like all birds of prey , orange - breasted falcons are visually oriented and their eyesight is eight times better than ours . how do we know this , since we cannot see through their eyes ? we know because they have eight times the numbers of visual cells ( rods and cones ) in their retinas than we do . even as young chicks , they pick up on small movements , such as a fly buzzing nearby , a rustle in the grass , or a passing bird flying overhead . biologists who were caring for young falcons prior to their release in our restoration program noticed that the young birds were fascinated with a ceiling fan . they focused intently on it , moving their heads in sync with the rotating blades ! their lives depend on their ability to locate and identify prey flying high up in the sky or moving deftly across open areas in the forest canopy or rivers where these falcons hunt .
six pairs reside in guatemala , all in the petén department , which includes tikal national park . the topography is gently rolling , broken in a few areas by steep karst terrain with few large escarpments , limiting the abundance of the falcons . elevations range from 100 to 300 meters . the climate is lowland tropical , warmer and wetter than the mountains of belize . the warm , moist tropical environment , coupled with a pronounced dry season for nesting , may be critical ingredients for the falcon’s specialized niche .
following their first week of exploration , the young falcons begin aerial games of chase , which soon become spectacular high - speed mock attacks . they also play keep away , plucking a pinecone or small stick from a tree , or catching a hapless butterfly or a giant flying grasshopper , and carrying it aloft , daring the others to “catch me if you can . ” following an intense pursuit , the prize is dropped , triggering a mad dive by the participants to retrieve it and renew the game . these chases are thrilling to watch as the falcons twist and dodge between the trees , flying at speeds comparable to that of a major league fastball pitch . orange - breasted falcons may be among the fastest falcons in the world . although these games may look like play to us , they have deadly serious survival implications as the young falcons hone their hunting skills . losing a meal struck down over the canopy could later mean the difference between life and death by starvation .
like other falcons , orange - breasted falcons are also extremely agile flyers . when they are young , they develop amazing flying skills through hard work and practice in what appears to us like playing games . just as a cat
plays
with a toy mouse , these young falcons play to hone their future hunting skills . we have had the privilege of watching these young birds in action ! in the first weeks after they fledge from the nest , the young falcons play “tag” by chasing one another , twisting , turning and diving after each other through the air . the wind makes a loud whooshing noise as they pass relatively low to the ground . another popular game is
keep away
with sticks or pine cones . they fly close to a pine tree and grab a pine cone with their talons . all the while , other young falcons are in hot pursuit . the bird carrying the cone eventually drops it , a buddy catches it in midair , and the chase continues . soon , they practice catching butterflies and large grasshoppers and eventually small migrating birds , such as swallows flying south over the forest canopy in the fall . eventually , these falcons no longer need parental care and feeding .
although 2013 was a very good year , it was marred by the loss of three of seven young falcons—two captive - bred young and one of b1 and caya’s youngsters . overwhelming evidence points to predation by a black - and - white hawk - eagle , the first such losses in five years of releases at the current hack site . juveniles are vulnerable , especially when they are roaming the countryside . we witnessed one unsuccessful hawk - eagle attack , when one of the young falcons managed to dive into the canyon to pick up speed and maneuverability and escaped . in flat country , he would probably have been killed . black - and - white hawk - eagles hunt unseen from the clouds , stooping like a falcon to surprise their victims before they can react or sound a warning alarm .
our hack - site attendants—typically college students exploring options for graduate school—care for the young falcons during daylight hours . our role is to provide food , guidance , and protection . the attendants quickly identify and bond with each falcon through its vocalizations , wing beat , appearance , and unique personality . some falcons are sociable and friendly ; others are withdrawn , cautious , or even grumpy like a spoiled child . the attendants are like surrogate parents , initially hand - feeding and then guiding the development of essential social and hunting skills , many of which the birds seem to learn by trial and error and by watching their parents . the best part of my job as manager , apart from being there at the site , is to interpret the falcons’ behavior for the hack - site attendants and direct future activities in nightly emails .
food and feeding behavior : relative to its overall body size , this species probably has the largest feet of any falcon and also a particularly large beak , adaptations for capturing its prey , medium - sized to large birds ( particularly doves , parakeets , and swifts ) , bats , and large insects , in flight . in the well - studied nesting population in guatemala and belize , birds comprised 85 . 7 % and bats 14 . 3 % of the 105 observed prey items , and nearly half of the avian prey weighed between 25 - 75 g ( baker et al . 1998 ) . for unknown reasons , the observed hunting success ( only 4 % for 208 attempts ) is among the lowest documented for any raptor ( baker et al . op cit . ) . these falcons generally perch on high , exposed snags , sallying forth to pursue aerial prey in direct merlin - like pursuit over the canopy , either in steep climbs terminating in a short stoop or in a very fast tail - chase ; they may scan the sky for swifts and other high - flying birds and go up to meet them in the air ( jenny and cade 1986 ) . jenny saw birds stooping in peregrine fashion on two occasions , and haverschmidt ( 1968 ) also described the method of hunting , stooping on birds in flight , as like that of the peregrine . baker et al . ( 1998 ) observed three instances of cooperative hunting by pairs . more . . . .
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thank you for taking the time to provide feedback on the iucn red list of threatened species website , we are grateful for your input .
sacc . 2005 and updates . a classification of the bird species of south america . available at : urltoken .
based on a model of future deforestation in the amazon basin , as well as evidence of declines elsewhere within its extensive range , it is suspected that the total population of this species is undergoing ongoing declines at the rate of 25 - 30 % over three generations , and it has therefore been uplisted to near threatened .
has a range covering much of latin america . the most northerly limit of its distribution is in southern
, at calama , in 2007 ( jara 2008 ) . declines in territory occupancy , average annual fledgling production per pair and the overall breeding productivity of the population were noted between 1992 - 1997 and 2003 - 2009 in belize ( berry
. 2011 ) . the small population ( c . 30 pairs ) in belize and guatemala appears to be isolated ( berry
partners in flight estimated the population to number fewer than 50 , 000 individuals ( a . panjabi in litt . 2008 ) , thus it is placed in the band 20 , 000 - 49 , 999 individuals here . trend justification : this species is suspected to lose 23 . 9 - 27 . 5 % of suitable habitat within its distribution over three generations ( 18 years ) based on a model of amazonian deforestation ( soares - filho et al . 2006 , bird et al . 2011 ) . it has some tolerance of forest degradation , but is poorly known and therefore suspected to decline by a rate approaching 30 % over three generations .
this species occurs in a range of habitats , including lowland forest , savanna edges , drier regions such as the chaco , and subtropical mountain slopes . it also occurs in human - modified landscapes , but only if mature forest is the dominant habitat ( berry
. 2010 ) . it is found mostly up to 1 , 100 m , but has been recorded at c . 2 , 900 m ( carrión and vargas 2008 ) . it is a highly specialised hunter of flying prey , mainly birds , but also bats . in guatemala and belize , courtship begins in february and offspring fledge in may and june . the nest is built on a cliff face , or rarely in a tree , often near water ( del hoyo
2011 ) , although the clearance , fragmentation and degradation of its forest habitat is expected to be a significant threat to the species throughout much of its range . the species , however , exhibits some tolerance of forest fragmentation and degradation , being recorded in modified landscapes with cultivated fields , orchards and pastures ( berry
. 2010 ) , and it has been found nesting in dead trees in cattle pastures ( a . lees
2011 ) . this suggests that it is not in rapid decline as a result . a further problem associated with habitat loss appears to be its displacement from nest sites by black vulture
. 2010 ) . the species may suffer a low level of direct persecution by humans , and average nesting success appears to be depressed by frequent predation , at least in some areas . the species may also be negatively impacted by the presence of africanised bees
this species occurs in a number of protected areas throughout its extensive range . fundación proaves colombia has designated a reserve in the east andes specifically for the protection of this species ( t . donegan
carry out a periodic meta - analysis of all known records and conduct further surveys to study the species ' s range , population size and trends . monitor habitat trends across its range . encourage the protection of nests by land - owners . investigate methods for reducing the impacts of black vultures and other predators and nest competitors ( berry
. 2010 ) . expand the protected area network to effectively protect ibas . effectively resource and manage existing and new protected areas , utilising emerging opportunities to finance protected area management with the joint aims of reducing carbon emissions and maximizing biodiversity conservation . conservation on private lands , through expanding market pressures for sound land management and preventing forest clearance on lands unsuitable for agriculture , is also essential ( soares - filho
2006 ) . campaign against proposed changes to the brazilian forest code that would lead to a decrease in the width of the areas of riverine forest protected as permanent preservation areas ( apps ) , which function as vital corridors in fragmented landscapes .
to make use of this information , please check the < terms of use > .
authors : robert berry , christopher l . wood , and brian l . sullivan
this species account is dedicated in honor of robert berry , member of the cornell lab of ornithology ' s administrative board .
berry , r . , c . l . wood , and b . l . sullivan ( 2009 ) .
) , version 1 . 0 . in neotropical birds online ( t . s . schulenberg , editor ) . cornell lab of ornithology , ithaca , ny , usa .
though the young falcons are raised in wyoming , they are released far from there in the country of belize . when these young falcons are 20 - 40 days old , they are transported directly to belize , thanks to the generous support of lighthawk , a flying service for conservation . some of our released males have mated with wild females and produced eggs or young chicks .
little is known about the species’ density in south america other that it is rare but widely dispersed geographically . some biologists estimate that their total population may have never been more than a few thousand individuals – and there are even fewer today .
when she is ready , the female typically lays three relatively large reddish - brown eggs over a six - day period . more than most other birds of prey , the female does most of the incubation for about 30 days and brooding of the chicks for about two weeks . while she is busy keeping the eggs and young at just the right temperature , the male works hard to provide all of her and the nestlings’ food . should he perish , the chicks are not likely to survive , as the female seldom leaves the nest unprotected . this is hard work for the male and after the chicks hatch , he must be diligent in finding enough for his family to eat . several times a day , he returns to the nest site with prey – often a bird that he has prepared by removing all the feathers , wings and legs . he and the female will often exchange food in mid - air and the female will carry it back to the nest where she will delicately feed tidbits to her young .
at around 40 days after hatching , the young fly for the first time . however , they stay in their parents ' territory for many months while they learn to hunt and live independently . during this important time in the young chicks ' lives , the parents continue to bring them food . but now , instead of tearing off small pieces to feed to them , the parents bring them whole prey so the young birds learn to tear the meat and feed on their own .
the peregrine fund is a 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) non - profit organization . our federal ein is 23 - 1969973
hbw alive contains information on descriptive notes , voice , habitat , food and feeding , breeding , movements , status and conservation plus a list of bibliographical references for this species account .
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thore noernberg , fernando enrique , joselito nardy ribeiro , pieter de groot boersma , herve jacob , ciro albano , carlos cuñado strelkov .
carlos cuñado strelkov , joselito nardy ribeiro , thore noernberg , richardgreenhalgh031 , arthur grosset , anselmo d affonseca , joe tobias , lmarce , dusan m . brinkhuizen , gustavo magnago , mikko pyhälä , agustin carrasco , gustavo diniz mendes de carvalho , octavio rios , john f . kvarnbäck , adam riley .
read this article in its original magazine layout , from the autumn 2014 issue of living bird [ 2 mb pdf download ] .
a brief electrical storm delayed aaron’s ascent and forced all three of us to hunker against the cliff . then we heard the muffled cry , “bees ! ” as aaron emerged amid a cloud of angry africanized “killer” bees that obscured his face . “cut the damn rope ! ” he shouted , spitting bees from his mouth . free of the rope , aaron bolted for the safety of a nearby waterhole , with oscar and i close behind , tripping and stumbling in a futile effort to outrun the angry horde . we plunged into the water , but whenever we surfaced , the bees attacked , and no amount of splashing deterred them . a waterfall at the head of the pool was shallow enough for us to stand under its protective veil . we were safe , temporarily , but the choice was clear—we must either escape from the bees or perish from hypothermia under the waterfall . i finally burst out the opposite side of the waterfall , scaled a small cliff , and crawled rapidly through the tall “dumb grass , ” oblivious to stings from a few scouts . my comrades followed .
in this1994 picture , aaron baker ( left ) , the author ( center ) , and oscar aguirre ( baker’s guatemalan assistant ) prepare to climb the macal river eyrie cliff , which looms in the background . photo by robert b . berry .


euglossa dilemma , the green orchid bee or dilemma orchid bee , is a species of solitary euglossine bee native to a broad area of central america , and recently introduced to florida in the united states .

it was first detected in broward county , florida in 2003 , and initially identified as euglossa viridissima , but further study revealed that e. viridissima as previously defined consisted of two cryptic species , and the one present in florida was new to science .

euglossa dilemma

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featured creatures : green orchid bee - euglossa dilemma friese
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euglossa dilemma genome assembly edil _ v1 . 0 ( gca _ 002201625 . 1 / nijg01 )
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euglossa - dilemma , - male , - side _ 2012 - 06 - 27 - 17 . 32 . 14 - zs - pmax
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euglossa dilemma , male , face _ 2012 - 06 - 27 - 17 . 20 . 45 zs pmax
euglossa dilemma , male , face _ 2012 - 06 - 27 - 17 . 20 . 45 zs pmax | flickr
euglossa dilemma genome assembly edil _ v1 . 0 ( gca _ 002201625 . 1 / nijg01 ) | i5k workspace @ nal
euglossa - dilemma , - male , - side _ 2012 - 06 - 27 - 17 . 32 . 14 - zs - pmax
euglossa - dilemma , - male , - side _ 2012 - 06 - 27 - 17 . 32 . 14 - zs - pmax | flickr
chemosensory genes detected in the antennal transcriptomes of e . dilemma and e . viridissima
e . dilemma gene annotations with homology to the honey bee . ( . txt )
establishment of the neotropical orchid bee euglossa viridissima ( hymenoptera : apidae ) in florida .
figure 2 . a female euglossa dilemma photographed while foraging . corbiculae ( pollen baskets ) are visible , and contain yellow pollen stores . photograph by thomas chauvenc , university of florida , ft . lauderdale research and education center .
a fixed and polymorphic non - synonymous and synonymous substitutions between orthologs of given genes of e . dilemma and e . viridissima
figure 1 . a male euglossa dilemma photographed from various angles . characteristic green metallic coloration , long tongue , brush - like front tarsi , and enlarged hind tibiae are visible . photographs by aaron mullins , university of florida , ft . lauderdale research and education center .
a homologous genes identified independently in the antennal transcriptomes of e . dilemma and e . viridissima with ≥10 - fold mean per - base coverage
acquisition of species - specific perfume blends : influence of habitat - dependent compound availability on odour choices of male orchid bees ( euglossa spp . )
characterization of the orchid bee euglossa viridissima ( apidae : euglossini ) and a novel cryptic sibling species , by morphological , chemical , and genetic characters .
pech , m . e . c . , w . de j . may - itzá , l . a . m . medina , and j . j . g . quezada - euan , 2008 sociality in euglossa ( euglossa ) viridissima friese ( hymenoptera , apidae , euglossini ) . insectes sociaux
acquisition of species - specific perfume blends : influence of habitat - dependent compound availability on odour choices of male orchid bees ( euglossa spp . ) | springerlink
if you use this dataset , please cite the following publication : the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes of the facultatively eusocial orchid bee euglossa dilemma philipp brand , nicholas saleh , hailin pan , cai li , karen m . kapheim and santiago r . ramírez g3 : genes , genomes , genetics early online july 12 , 2017 ; urltoken
our results are consistent with the hypothesis that genes of the olfactory peripheral system of e . dilemma and e . viridissima have evolved under strong divergent selective pressures . together , these observations support a significant trend of increased divergent selective pressures that may have shaped the recent evolution of chemosensory genes in e . dilemma and e . viridissima .
skov c , wiley j . 2005 . establishment of the neotropical orchid bee euglossa viridissima ( hymenoptera : apidae ) in florida . florida entomologist 88 : 225 - 227 .
allpaths - lg for more information , or to cite , please see the following publication : the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes of the facultatively eusocial orchid bee euglossa dilemma philipp brand , nicholas saleh , hailin pan , cai li , karen m . kapheim and santiago r . ramírez g3 : genes , genomes , genetics early online july 12 , 2017 ; urltoken
first identified as euglossa viridissima , but further study revealed that e . viridissima as previously defined consisted of two cryptic species , and the one present in florida was new to science
mitochondrial genome reconstruction . the structure of the honey bee mitochondrial genome and information of the homologous reconstructed parts of the e . dilemma mitochondrial genome . nonreconstructed parts of incompletely reconstructed genes are hatched .
this bee was spotted in north naples fl june 4 , 2016 . it has an bright fluorescent green color . but what really caught our eye was the way it hovers and dart around our basil plant . i think it was eating the basil leaves ? i found this description online : green bee ? - euglossa dilemma - female north lauderdale , broward county , florida , usa euglossa viridissima . neotropical orchid bees ( hymenoptera : apidae : euglossini ) have been reported only twice from the united states of america ; once near brownsville , texas and more recently near silverbell , arizona .
villanueva - gutierrez r , quezada - euan j , eltz t . pollen diets of two sibling orchid bee species , euglossa , in yucatán , southern mexico . apidologie . 2013 ; 44 : 440–6 .
all bees play an important role in the pollination of plants . in the case of green orchid bees , this role is not entirely known in its naturalized range in florida . pemberton and wheeler ( 2006 ) provide a comprehensive list of important plants known to be visited by euglossa dilemma in florida . though most of these plants are beneficial , there is evidence that the green orchid bee outperforms native bees in the pollination of certain invasive weeds .
to analyze genome structure , we compared the genome - wide gene synteny of e . dilemma and the honey bee . we used the genomic locations of homologous genes ( as determined above ) of the honey bee and e . dilemma scaffolds of at least 100 kb length to build haplotype blocks with a minimum length of 1 kb . haplotype blocks included the entire gene span as well as intergenic regions whenever two or more adjacent genes were homologous in both species . we discarded gene annotations from downstream analysis that were recovered as homologous to multiple genomic locations in either species . furthermore , we excluded e . dilemma genes that were recovered as homologous to honey bee scaffolds belonging to unknown linkage groups .
schorkopf dlp , mitko l , eltz t . enantioselective preference and high antennal sensitivity for ( − ) - ipsdienol in scent - collecting male orchid bees , euglossa cyanura . j chem ecol . 2011 ; 37 : 953–60 .
zimmermann y , roubik dw , quezada - euan jjg , paxton rj , eltz t ( 2009b ) single mating in orchid bees ( euglossa , apinae ) : implications for mate choice and social evolution . insectes sociaux 56 : 241–249
in rare cases , high similarity between sequences detected in the euglossa transcriptomes and the reference sequences allowed for subsequent manual identifications of homologs of the other species only assembled by one assembler . the resulting chemosensory gene family sets constituted the basis of all subsequent analyses .
aquino - vázquez a , cuadriello - aguilar ji . 1990 . un nido de euglossa viridissima friese 1899 ( hymenoptera : apidae : euglossini ) , pp . 117 - 118b in xxv congreso nacional de entomologíá . programa y resumenes . oaxaca , oaxaca , mexico .
hinojosa - díaz ia , feria - arroyo tp , engel ms . 2009 . potential distribution of orchid bees outside their native range : the cases of eulaema polychroma ( mocsáry ) and euglossa viridissima friese in the usa ( hymenoptera : apidae ) . diversity and distributions 15 : 421 - 428 .
distribution of non - synonymous amino acid substitutions across odorant receptor ( or ) domains . a the white bars represent the sum of all non - synonymous substitutions detected in the respective domain over all ors . or12 , or41 and or45 are highlighted because they showed the most non - synonymous substitutions between e . dilemma and e . viridissima . in : intracellular n - terminus , tm : transmembrane domain , el : external loop , il : internal loop , ec : extracellular c - terminus . b predicted membrane topology for or41 . fixed non - synonymous substitutions between e . dilemma and e . viridissima are highlighted in black
pokorny t , hannibal m , quezada - euan jjg , hedenström e , sjöberg n , bång j , et al . acquisition of species - specific perfume blends : influence of habitat - dependent compound availability on odour choices of male orchid bees ( euglossa spp . ) . oecologia . 2013 ; 172 : 417–25 .
eltz t , fritzsch f , pech jr , zimmermann y , ramírez s , quezada - euan jjg , et al . characterization of the orchid bee euglossa viridissima ( apidae : euglossini ) and a novel cryptic sibling species , by morphological , chemical , and genetic characters . zool j linn soc . 2011 ; 163 : 1064–76 .
eltz t , fritzsch f , petch jr , zimmermann y , ramirez sr , quezada - euan jg , bembe b . 2011 . characterization of the orchid bee euglossa viridissima ( apidae : euglossini ) and a novel cryptic sibling species by morphological , chemical , and genetic characters . zoological journal of the linnean society 163 : 1064 - 1076 .
we identified 3185 orthologous genes including 94 chemosensory loci from five different gene families ( odorant receptors , ionotropic receptors , gustatory receptors , odorant binding proteins , and chemosensory proteins ) . our results revealed that orthologs with signatures of divergent selection between e . dilemma and e . viridissima were significantly enriched for chemosensory genes . notably , elevated signals of divergent selection were almost exclusively observed among chemosensory receptors ( i . e . odorant receptors ) .
eltz , thomas ; fritzsch , falko ; zimmermann , yvonne ; pech , jorge ramirez ; ramirez , santiago r . ; quezada - euan , j . javier g . ; bembe , benjamin ( 2011 ) .
characterization of the orchid bee euglossa viridissima ( apidae : euglossini ) and a novel cryptic sibling species , by morphological , chemical , and genetic characters
. zoological journal of the linnean society 2011 ( 163 ) : 1064–1076 . doi : 10 . 1111 / j . 1096 - 3642 . 2011 . 00740 . x .
the e . dilemma genome assembly edil _ v1 . 0 , the annotation , and the original gene set edil _ ogs _ v1 . 0 are available for download via ncbi ( bioproject : prjna388474 ) , beebase ( elsik et al . 2016 ) , the i5k nal workspace ( urltoken ) ( i5k consortium 2013 ) , and the ramirez lab website . the raw reads are available via ncbi ( bioproject : prjna388474 ) . the published raw transcriptome sequence reads are available at the ncbi sequence read archive ( sra : srx765918 ) ( brand et al . 2015 ) .
the high success in mitochondrial gene reconstruction is likely due to the nature of the analyzed transcriptome data . short intergenic regions as well as polycistronic mitochondrial mrna likely lead to the assembly of multiple genes into single scaffolds . the a - t rich region is completely missing as well as the nd2 and 12s rrna genes flanking the region in insect mitogenomes . this unrecovered region also contains a high number of trnas in the honey bee , which could explain the low number of recovered trnas in e . dilemma . while the partial mitochondrial genome assembly is only 75 % complete , it represents the first mitogenome for the group of orchid bees and will thus be a valuable resource for future phylogenetic analyses within the lineage and between more distantly related bee taxa .
the cegma and busco analysis and the gene annotation results suggest that the gene - coding fraction of the e . dilemma genome was properly assembled , despite the large estimated genome size and comparatively low per - base sequencing coverage . however , genetic material obtained from natural populations as in our study can lead to the fragmentation of assemblies due to high nucleotide diversity ( kajitani et al . 2014 ) . in addition , high genetic diversity in the underlying genetic material can lead to a high number of false duplicates due to multiple incorporation of divergent genomic regions in genome assemblies ( kelley and salzberg 2010 ) . our busco analysis suggests that the assembly did not produce an unusually high fraction of duplicated benchmark single - copy orthologs , indicating a relatively low abundance of false duplicates . the observed fragmentation in our assembly is thus likely to be primarily the result of repetitive genomic elements , and less likely the result of low coverage or high nucleotide diversity in the genetic material used for sequencing .
total - rna was extracted using the trizol extraction method ( invitrogen ) following the manufacturers tissue preparation protocol , except for an extended incubation time of 15 min in the phase separation step to maximize rna yield . extracted rna was resuspended in 30 μl of rnase free water . all optional steps were skipped . rna pools were treated with dnasei to purge potential dna contamination and subsequently quantified on the experion automated electrophoresis system ( bio - rad ) with the experion stdsens analysis kit ( bio - rad ) according to the standard protocol . afterwards , 4 μg and 2 μg of total - rna of the e . dilemma and e . viridissima pool , respectively were sent to gatc - biotech ( constance , germany ) for barcoded cdna library preparation using the truseq mrna kit ( illumina ) and subsequent 100 - bp single - end sequencing on an illumina hiseq 2000 lane ( raw sequence reads are available at the ncbi sequence read archive [ sra : srx765918 , sra : srx765888 ] ) .
analysis of divergent selection between e . dilemma and e . viridissima . a boxplot comparing d n and d s values obtained for chemosensory and non - chemosensory ( nc ) genes ( d n and / or d s ≠ 0 ) . d n was significantly higher for chemosensory than for nc loci while d s had similar values for both sets resulting in elevated mean d n / d s for the chemosensory loci ( see text for statistics ) . * : p < 0 . 001 . b d n / d s plot for 3185 genes reconstructed from the antennal transcriptome analysis . those genes exhibiting d n / d s > 1 have higher non - synonymous to synonymous substitution rates , in agreement with the hypothesis of divergent selection ( lower right ) ; those genes with d n / d s < 1 exhibit lower non - synonymous to synonymous substitution rates , being consistent with the hypothesis of purifying selection ( upper left ) . genes with zero d n and d s are not shown and genes with either d n or d s = 0 are indicated by small points . the set of genes with d n / d s > 1 was enriched for chemosensory receptor genes . ors : odorant receptors , irs : ionotropic receptors , obps : odorant - binding proteins
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upcoming events 2018 bugguide gathering in virginia july 27 - 29 : registration and discussion photos of insects and people from the 2015 gathering in wisconsin , july 10 - 12 photos of insects and people from the 2014 gathering in virginia , june 4 - 7 . photos of insects and people from the 2013 gathering in arizona , july 25 - 28 photos of insects and people from the 2012 gathering in alabama photos of insects and people from the 2011 gathering in iowa photos from the 2010 workshop in grinnell , iowa photos from the 2009 gathering in washington
brilliant metallic green with
inflated
hind legs , used to store floral oils .
if you see their tongue , it ' s is nearly as long as its body .
recorded on cheilocostus and datura . the hosts section on its discover life species page lists known associations based on specimen records and images .
the bees in your backyard : a guide to north america ' s bees . joseph s . wilson & olivia j . messinger carril . 2015 . princeton university press .
contributed by martin hauser on 11 may , 2006 - 12 : 18pm additional contributions by beatriz moisset , john s . ascher , h . go , marci hess last updated 6 may , 2017 - 2 : 19pm
disclaimer : dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service . we strive to provide accurate information , but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world . if you need expert professional advice , contact your local extension office .
contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content . click the contributor ' s name for licensing and usage information . everything else copyright © 2003 - 2018 iowa state university , unless otherwise noted .
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since this arrival , the green orchid bee has become well established in south florida . current reports of this species are mostly from broward , palm beach and dade counties . however its future distribution has been predicted to include almost half of peninsular florida . following a line that runs from tampa to west palm beach and south , the potential range extends tothe entire southern tip of the florida peninsula .
green orchid bees are a quite conspicuous and charismatic species . this is mostly due to their large size and bright metallic - green coloration ( fig . 1 ) . they are roughly the same size to slightly smaller than a honey bee , usually about 1 . 3 cm in length . the wing membranes are darkened , but transparent . green orchid bees are very fast and agile flyers , and can be seen quickly darting from flower to flower separated by long periods of hovering . as with most bees in florida , females possess a stinger and males do not . although females can sting , they are quite timid in doing so . the sting itself is less painful than that of a honey bee , though unlike honey bees they can sting repeatedly .
green orchid bees are most likely to be confused with metallic members of the bee family halictidae ( sweat bees ) . however , orchid bees can easily be identified by their long tongues , which are roughly two thirds as long as their bodies . in contrast , sweat bees have quite short tongues in comparison to their bodies . female orchid bees have corbiculae ( pollen baskets ) on their hind legs , in which they store collected pollen in order to provision their young ( figs . 2 , 3bc ) . though males lack corbiculae , they have characteristic enlarged hind tibiae ( fig . 3a ) . these unusual structures have a hole on the outer side , which provides access to the spongy compartment within . these unusual structures play an important role in the storage of fragrant , aromatic compounds which male orchid bees collect from their environment .
figure 3 . hind legs of male ( a ) and female ( b , c ) green orchid bees . male bees have an enlarged hind tibia with a hole providing access to the spongy compartment which acts as storage for fragrant compounds collected from its environment . females have corbiculae ( pollen baskets ) for collecting pollen and propolis ( plant resins ) . photographs by aaron mullins , university of florida , ft . lauderdale research and education center .
though closely related to highly social bees in the same family , orchid bees are primarily solitary , showing only primitively social characteristics such as occasionally sharing communal nesting locations . females construct nest cells out of propolis ( resins collected from plant sources ) ( fig . 4b ) . nests are located in any sort of enclosed cavity ; entrances are often sealed off with resin and plant debris ( fig . 4a , c ) . mature nests can contain up to 20 cells . the young are provisioned with nectar and pollen provided by the mother as they develop .
figure 4 . a young orchid bee nest constructed inside an empty nucleus colony box ( a beekeeping hive box half as wide as a typical hive box used for housing small honey bee colonies ) ( a ) . the top has been removed revealing three cells under construction by a female green orchid bee ( b ) . the entrance has been sealed off with propolis ( plant resins ) except for a small hole allowing entry for the female bee ( c ) . photographs by aaron mullins , university of florida , ft . lauderdale research and education center .
male orchid bees exhibit a peculiar behavior of collecting fragrant volatile compounds from their environment . these compounds are meticulously collected , stored , and ( presumably ) presented to females by fanning their wings and “spray ventilating” their bouquet for the inspection of prospective mates . fragrant compounds are collected by males with mop - like protrusions on their front tarsi ( fig . 3a , video 1 ) . they are then transferred into the enlarged hind tibiae through the hole . collecting a complex bouquet of fragrances and storing them within the hind tibia represents a considerable investment on the part of male orchid bees . fighting and robbing fragrance stores from competing males has been observed in nature . different species of orchid bee tend to be quite particular in the fragrances sought .
this behavior is presumably what has led to the complex interaction with species - specific orchids in their native ranges . a particular orchid will provide fragrant compounds attractive to a specific species of orchid bee . in turn , the bees provide pollination of the orchid species . the arrival and success of the green orchid bee into florida without its natural mutualistic orchid has provided evidence that the mutualism is perhaps obligatory on the part of the orchid , but merely facultative for the bees . in florida , male green orchid bees are attracted to chemicals produced by certain wood - rot fungi ( video 1 ) , decomposing vegetation , perfume flowers , and certain essential oils such as clove and cinnamon oil . male green orchid bees can be quickly and easily attracted and observed by soaking a small piece of paper with clove oil and placing it outside .
bembé b . 2004 . functional morphology in male euglossine bees and their ability to spray fragrances ( hymenoptera , apidae , euglossini ) . apidologie 35 : 283 - 291 .
carvalho filho fs . 2010 . scent - robbing and fighting among male orchid bees , eulalema ( apeulalema ) nigrata lepeletier , 1841 ( hymenoptera : apidae : euglossini ) . biota neotropica 10 : 405 - 408 .
dressler rl . 1967 . pollination by euglossine bees . evolution 22 : 202 - 210 .
liu h , pemberton rw . 2009 . solitary invasive orchid bee outperforms co - occurring native bees to promote fruit set of an invasive solanum . oecologia 159 : 515 - 525 .
pemberton rw , wheeler gs . 2006 . orchid bees don’t need orchids : evidence from the naturalization of an orchid bee in florida . ecology 87 : 1995 - 2001 .
, senior biological scientist , university of florida , ft . lauderdale research and education center
photographs : aaron mullins and thomas chauvenc , university of florida , ft . lauderdale research and education center
is a species of green orchid bee from central america in which the males have two teeth on their mandibles .
the very similar bee that was first observed in florida in 2003 was found to have three such teeth . sequencing data from a
varied between the two groups . males of these bees store aromatic compounds extracted from various environmental sources in pouches on their hind legs . certain characteristic compounds present as main ingredients in these perfumes in
of hndb ( 2 - hydroxy - 6 - nona - 1 , 3 - dienyl - benzaldehyde ) . it was therefore concluded that
green orchid bees are varying shades of glossy metallic green and can grow to a length of about 1 . 3 cm ( 0 . 5 in ) . the membranous wings are dark - coloured and translucent and the female has
on her hind legs . the male has an enlarged joint on his hind leg in which there is a pit for storing substances he gathers from plants . the female but not the male possesses a sting which can be used on more than one occasion but which is not as painful to humans as a honeybee ' s sting . this bee is very agile in the air , hovering for lengthy periods and darting between flowers . it might be confused with sweat bees in the
and is expected to extend its range to most of the southern half of florida .
in its native mexico it is found in hot dry habitats including degraded forests , pastures , parks and gardens . it is less dependent on primary forests than most euglossine bees .
male orchid bees are specialised to visit particular species of neotropical orchid . this is a
arrangement in which the male bee benefits from gathering the fragrance ingredients supplied by the flower which he stores in his hollow hind legs , and the orchid benefits by being pollinated .
is associated in its central american home range is unknown , but in its new florida habitat , it breeds successfully without the presence of any orchid , the male visiting other species of plants to gather the ingredients for his perfume . one of these plants is basil (
there may be unexpected consequences of the naturalization of these bees in the united states . for example , in a similar situation in florida , two fig species
have been introduced but did not spread because there was no suitable pollinator . with the arrival of the non - native wasps (
the male bee attracts a female by releasing his fragrance and fanning his wings to disperse it . the female builds a solitary nest out of
, an exudate from plants . the nest may contain up to twenty cells , in each of which she lays an egg . the female brings pollen and nectar to the nest to feed the developing larvae . several bees may build their nests side by side but do not share the task of feeding the young .
pemberton , robert w . ; wheeler , gregory s . ( 2006 ) .
orchid bees don ' t need orchids : evidence from the naturalization of an orchid bee in florida
. ecology 87 : 1995–2001 . doi : 10 . 1890 / 0012 - 9658 ( 2006 ) 87 [ 1995 : obdnoe ] 2 . 0 . co ; 2 .
interesting information & pictures from uf / ifas on the green orchid bee , . . .
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i just saw one of these bees in my yard in tarpon springs , fl ( gulf coast ) . it hovered about 12 inches in front of my face for about 30 seconds , and it seemed to be staring at me . it went away , then came back again and did the same thing . it was very beautiful .
i have had two of them in my house in the last two days . i live in a suburb of cleveland ohio . i would post a picture , however , i don ' t see an option to do that . it is the bee pictured in this site though . . .
i have many beautiful butterflies in my yard along with several types of bees but sitting on my front porch and watching this bee was a real treat . i live on the western edge of wellington , fl in palm beach county .
just found one of these beauties in our garden . took a couple of pictures . very beautoful bee ! never seen one before .
i caught this exact bee on my porch in vero beach , fl yesterday and have a photo - a little blury but you can get the just of it . put some flowers in the jar with it and the long tongue immediately found its way into the flower - looked similar to a butterfly ' s tongue .
i just got stung by one this morning & caught it in a bottle , so i could look it up . fascinating !
i saw one at cibolo creek nature center in boerne texas on saturday june 14th . first time i have ever seen one . did not get a chance to photo it .
i noted one on some pumpkin plants a couple of months ago . i do not know exactly the species , but it certainly looked like this . i thought maybe i ' d see more , but no luck so far . . .
we ' ve had these glorious green bees for at least 10 years in volusia county . i ' ve had boxes up and active for at least that long . when my lotus and angel trumpets are in bloom there are always at least 5 at a time working each flower . looking forward to their return in a few weeks .
we saw one today just after a light rain , in the last few blooms on our bolted basil . we ' ve also had tiny black bees in large quantities pollinating the basil , but this is the first time for the green bee .
ok i ' m just posting as a warning . they at a pretty insect with a powerful sting . guys , guys , guys . . . . i found one . ouch !
i found one of these awsome little bees on my back porch in upper sandusky ohio ! but i only see people commenting in other states like florida , texas , mexico and new york . just thought id let you all know they are in ohio too ! but please feel free to e - mail me at jaybird462011 @ urltoken if they are not supost to be here : )
saw in garden . thought it was a fly at first but then it was going into the tomato flowers and got a closer look and was acting just like bee and looks like a bee so i looked up online and found this . interesting . can ' t say i ' ve ever seen one before but it ' s welcome to stay as long as it wants .
i ' ve never seen this bee before ! thought it was a fly until i put my glasses on . beautiful color and rather small . seen in palmdale , ca , north of los angeles .
i live in oakland park / ft lauderdale area and was just trimming my basil plant and got startled by two of these hovering around the plant and landing several times . i stood still watching them for a good 5 mins . so beautiful and didn ' t even know these existed !
was just out front , there was one in the sunflowers . there was also a black & greyish white . not sure if that would be relevant .
couldn ' t say it didn ' t stick out like a sore thumb . . . was going to keep it , but it got away . my brother took a picture .
i saw one today gathering pollen from a wandering jew . his pollen sacks were full and yellow . he was small but caught my attention with his bright coloring . march 29 , 2013 . bradenton , florida .
went back out and saw 2 of em ! took a great inflight pic . wish i could post it !
my fiance and i just arrived in sarasota and saw one of these in my grandnmothers flower bed . got a real good look too . wish i gad my camera on me . was cool looking . almost glows . bright shiny greenish blue . interesting creatures .
wow . it ' s beautiful . just found one on my front yard wildflower display . colored as if a green fly . . . . but with a honeybee ' s flight patterns . gorgeous green mood ring colors . . . flashing to and fro with the sun ' s light . . . . . emerald green helmet . amazing . i had to pause and study for a few seconds just to confirm what exactly it was . i ' m glad i did , because at first thought . . . i really thought it was some sort of fly . very fast , darting style of flight . . . . with the normal bee - like graceful hover we are accustomed to when alight on a pollen frond . wild .
its a double rainbow
kind of day . thanks google for directing me here during my query .
me and my boyfriend found a dead green bee on the ground in arcata , california . i think it ' s a male , and the stinger is still in it . we ' ve got it in a little box , show it to people . i had never seen one before . it ' s quite fascinating .
just an fyi : male bees don ' t have a stinger . the stinger in bees are a modified ovipositor ( an organ used to lay eggs ) which males don ' t possess . just thought you ' d like to know to help you in your identification of bees . if it stung you it ' s a female . incidentally the same goes for ants , wasps and mosquitoes .
i saw one of these sunday in my flower garden . i was startled at first then hypnotized by the beauty and strangeness . i live in lake city , florida . it is in north central florida where i - 10 and i - 75 intersect . glad he didn ' t sting me . i followed him for a while , of course my camera and phone were on the back porch !
we live about 5 miles from butterfly world and my daughter was just stung by one of these . she kept insisting that it was green and then i saw him lying on the ground . we trapped and bagged him . he is very pretty but his sting sure hurts .
spotted 3 or 4 green bees in bradenton , fl ( south of tampa bay ) . at first , i thought they were mutant horseflies . they are much faster than the common honeybee , so i couldn ' t snap a photo . we ' ve recently had a few cool nights here due to a late spring snow fall up north which could be driving them further south . the pretty visitors are welcome to our garden anytime .
i just saw a beautiful specimen of this in englewood , florida in my dad ' s front yard on jan . 6 , 2012 . it was a perfect replica of a honey bee albeit slightly smaller . the black stripes were quite prominent as on a honey bee but the base color was an amazing neon green ! it also had the accumulation of pollen on its legs as did the other honey bees it was flying around with . i would say that it flew faster and collected the pollen a little faster than the other bees but i am not exactly sure of that .
i just found a green bee on my flowers in the back patio . i live in north texas
i just found one in my apartment - in new york . hes sitting on the wall . he let me snap several pictures of him before smacking into me ( and scaring me ) while flying away to another part of the wall . we have had an annoying sound coming from the bookshelf or wall over the past few days - a slight knocking sound , but repetitive like a woodpecker . i was wondering if it could of been him ? i certainly hope its not another bug . its getting to be fall - i feel kind bad that he ' s gonna have such a sad life away from his tribe , cold .
i found one in our apartment in stuart florida . my kids and i let it go .
i was stung by a green bee while i was dressing for work , it seems like he was in the shirt sleeve and stung me on my upper arm . it ' s two days later and it still stings , i just put some meat tenderizer on it and that stopped the stinging . i have never seen a green bee before .
thanks so much ! i ' m glad i found this site ! i posted the pic to be identified before i looked around and i found the bee on here ! seems to be a green orchid bee .
thanks . . i also like post . so this is my favorite to see same post . new construction homes parkland florida florida new home construction rebate . get 66 % of my commission back at closing .
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we wish to thank rosamond coates and the staff of the los tuxtlas biological station for their hospitality and support during field sampling . ricardo ayala kindly provided a collecting permit for euglossine bees in southern mexico , klaus lunau and the sensory ecology lab at the university of düsseldorf hosted part of the molecular analyses , and martin beye and martin hasselmann provided expertise and technical advice . supported by the german science foundation ( el 249 / 3 ) , sep - conacyt 103341 , and a mutual - foncicyt grant .
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