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A bee in the corridor: centering and wall-following
Julien R Serres1, Guillaume P Masson, Franck Ruffier
1Biorobotics Lab., Institute of Movement Science, CNRS and University of the Mediterranean, 163, ave. Luminy, 13288, Marseille cedex 09, France. julien.serres@univmed.fr
Die Naturwissenschaften
|September 25, 2008
Summary
Honeybees exhibit wall-following behavior in flight tunnels, not just centering. This suggests a lateral optic flow regulator guides their navigation, maintaining constant visual flow without needing to gauge speed or distance.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Ecology
- Insect Navigation
- Sensory Biology
Background:
- Flying insects use visual cues for navigation and collision avoidance.
- Previous studies suggested optic flow balance explains centering behavior in narrower corridors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate honeybee lateral collision avoidance mechanisms in a large flight tunnel.
- To test the validity of the optic flow balance hypothesis in wider spaces.
Main Methods:
- Honeybees (Apis mellifera) were trained to fly in a 95-cm wide flight tunnel.
- Behavioral responses (centering vs. wall-following) were observed under varying tunnel conditions.
Main Results:
- Honeybees displayed both centering and wall-following behaviors.
- Wall-following persisted even when parts of the opposite wall were removed.
- Findings contradicted the optic flow balance hypothesis for wider corridors.
Conclusions:
- A lateral optic flow regulator, a feedback system maintaining constant unilateral optic flow, better explains honeybee navigation.
- This control scheme allows visual guidance without explicit speed or distance measurement.
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