Aversive Foraging Conditions Modulate Downstream Social Food Sharing

Area of Science:

• Animal behavior
• Social insects
• Eusociality

Background:

• Eusocial insects exhibit labor division, with internal colony conditions influenced by external factors via social interactions.
• Honey bees (Apis mellifera) use trophallaxis for food and information transfer, a process influenced by food availability and scent.
• The impact of aversive foraging conditions, such as predation and competition, on trophallaxis remains poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how aversive experiences during foraging affect downstream trophallaxis within a honey bee colony.
• To explore the behavioral mechanisms underlying these effects.

Main Methods:

• A cage paradigm was used to separate bees into groups with and without direct feeder access.
• One group fed exclusively via trophallaxis, while the other specialized in foraging or food distribution.
• The effect of aversive foraging conditions on trophallaxis was examined under different food scent conditions.

Main Results:

• Aversive foraging conditions led to increased trophallaxis with bees restricted from feeders when the food was scented.
• Conversely, aversive conditions decreased trophallaxis with restricted bees when the food was unscented.
• These findings suggest a complex modulation of food sharing based on perceived risk and food information.

Conclusions:

• Honey bee trophallaxis is sensitive to the aversive experiences of foragers.
• The scent of food plays a crucial role in mediating the response to aversive conditions during trophallaxis.
• Understanding these mechanisms is vital for assessing the impact of environmental stressors like toxins, predation, and competition on social insect colonies.