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Tactile Conditioning And Movement Analysis Of Antennal Sampling Strategies In Honey Bees Apis mellifera L.
Published on: December 12, 2012
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Honey bees possess a polarity-sensitive magnetoreceptor
Veronika Lambinet1, Michael E Hayden2, Chloe Reid1
1Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada.
Summary
Honey bees use Earth's magnetic field for navigation. This study shows honey bees (Apis mellifera) can sense the magnetic field's polarity, crucial for their orientation.
Area of Science:
- Animal Behavior
- Magnetoreception
- Insect Navigation
Background:
- Honey bees (Apis mellifera) utilize geomagnetic fields for orientation during foraging and comb alignment.
- Previous research indicates bees' sensitivity to magnetic fields, but polarity sensing remained unconfirmed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the hypothesis that honey bees possess a polarity-sensitive magnetoreceptor.
- To investigate if bees can differentiate the directionality of magnetic fields.
Main Methods:
- An engineered magnetic anomaly was created, directing bees towards or away from a sugar reward.
- Bees were trained to associate the anomaly with a reward, then tested with altered magnetic field polarity.
Main Results:
- Bees responded to the magnetic anomaly when its polarity matched the training.
- Response to the anomaly significantly decreased when its polarity was reversed.
Conclusions:
- Findings support the hypothesis that honey bees have a polarity-sensitive magnetoreceptor.
- This polarity sensitivity likely plays a role in their navigational abilities.
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