Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Pollination and Flower Structure

Pollination and Flower Structure

Flowers are the reproductive, seed-producing structures of angiosperms. Typically, flowers consist of sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels. Sepals and petals are the vegetative flower organs. Stamens and carpels are the reproductive organs.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

EU Omnibus proposal increases pesticide risks.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026

Same author

Male bumblebees sustain mate-seeking by adjusting foraging to environmental conditions.

Behavioral ecology : official journal of the International Society for Behavioral Ecology·2026

Same author

From flowers to pollinators: Dietary exposure of honey bees, bumble bees and solitary bees to trace elements across European fields.

Journal of hazardous materials·2026

Same author

No evidence for male attraction to cephalic labial gland pheromones in Bombus terrestris (Hymenoptera: Apidae).

Journal of insect science (Online)·2026

Same author

Horizon scanning for European wild pollinators identifies world-leading legislation as a key opportunity for pollinators.

Scientific reports·2026

Same author

Synaptic high-frequency jumping synchronises vision to high-speed behaviour.

Nature communications·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 12, 2026

A Novel Behavioral Assay to Investigate Gustatory Responses of Individual, Freely-moving Bumble Bees Bombus terrestris

A Novel Behavioral Assay to Investigate Gustatory Responses of Individual, Freely-moving Bumble Bees Bombus terrestris

Published on: July 21, 2016

Behavioural evidence for self-medication in bumblebees?

David Baracchi¹, Mark J F Brown², Lars Chittka¹

¹Department of Biological and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, UK.

|December 10, 2015

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Parasitized bumblebees showed a preference for nicotine-laced nectar, suggesting self-medication. While nicotine delayed gut infections, it did not clear them, indicating weak anti-parasite effects.

Keywords:

Bombus terrestris Crithidia bombi foraging nicotine pathogens pollinator-plant interactions pollinators secondary metabolites

More Related Videos

Neuropharmacological Manipulation of Restrained and Free-flying Honey Bees, Apis mellifera

Neuropharmacological Manipulation of Restrained and Free-flying Honey Bees, Apis mellifera

Published on: November 26, 2016

Radio Frequency Identification and Motion-sensitive Video Efficiently Automate Recording of Unrewarded Choice Behavior by Bumblebees

Radio Frequency Identification and Motion-sensitive Video Efficiently Automate Recording of Unrewarded Choice Behavior by Bumblebees

Published on: November 15, 2014

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 12, 2026

A Novel Behavioral Assay to Investigate Gustatory Responses of Individual, Freely-moving Bumble Bees Bombus terrestris

A Novel Behavioral Assay to Investigate Gustatory Responses of Individual, Freely-moving Bumble Bees Bombus terrestris

Published on: July 21, 2016

Neuropharmacological Manipulation of Restrained and Free-flying Honey Bees, Apis mellifera

Neuropharmacological Manipulation of Restrained and Free-flying Honey Bees, Apis mellifera

Published on: November 26, 2016

Radio Frequency Identification and Motion-sensitive Video Efficiently Automate Recording of Unrewarded Choice Behavior by Bumblebees

Radio Frequency Identification and Motion-sensitive Video Efficiently Automate Recording of Unrewarded Choice Behavior by Bumblebees

Published on: November 15, 2014

Area of Science:

Ecology
Animal Behavior
Pharmacology

Background:

Pollinators face global threats from emergent diseases.
Nectar contains antimicrobial secondary metabolites, potentially benefiting pollinators.
Nicotine is a common nectar secondary metabolite in certain plant species.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate if parasitized bumblebees use nicotine from nectar as a self-medication strategy.
To assess the toxicological, microbiological, and behavioral effects of nicotine on bumblebees and their gut parasites.

Main Methods:

Toxicological, microbiological, and behavioral experiments were conducted on bumblebees infected with Crithidia bombi.
Assessed nicotine preference in parasitized bees and its effect on parasite load and progression.
Investigated the direct impact of nicotine on protozoan viability and its toxic effects on bees.

Main Results:

Parasitized bumblebees exhibited a slight preference for nicotine-laced sucrose solutions.
Nicotine consumption delayed gut infection progression but did not eliminate the parasite.
Nicotine showed weak direct anti-parasite effects and had detrimental impacts on healthy bees with prolonged exposure.

Conclusions:

Bumblebees may engage in self-medication by consuming nicotine, which offers a temporary delay in infection progression.
The benefits of nicotine consumption in infected bees may outweigh detoxification costs.
Further research is needed to confirm pollinator selection for nectar secondary metabolites and their role in plant reproductive success.