Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Distance Measurements by Taping01:18

Distance Measurements by Taping

219
Tapes are essential in surveying for accurate, durable, and short-distance measurements. Made from lightweight, nylon-coated steel, they offer flexibility and strength for rugged outdoor use. The nylon coating protects against rust and wear, extending the tape's life. Standard lengths, around 30 meters, are marked in meters and millimeters for precision.Surveyors select tapes based on site conditions and accuracy needs. Lightweight, nylon-coated tapes are commonly used for ease of handling and...
219
Design Example: Measuring Distance Between Two Points with Obstructions01:10

Design Example: Measuring Distance Between Two Points with Obstructions

207
When measuring distances in areas with physical obstructions, such as a lake in a field, surveyors must employ techniques to calculate accurate lengths without direct line measurements. One effective method is the offset technique, which allows for precise distance estimation over inaccessible stretches.In this scenario, a surveyor must measure a side of an area that crosses a lake. Since the measuring tape cannot span the lake, the surveyor begins by establishing a baseline that aligns with...
207

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Social and spatial affinity drive wound care in ants.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
Same author

Variation in behavioural maturation in tropical honey bees corresponds with hormonal and molecular differences.

The Journal of experimental biology·2026
Same author

Domestication is adaptive evolution in response to human use.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2025
Same author

Monitoring Free-Living Honeybee Colonies in Germany: Insights Into Habitat Preferences, Survival Rates, and Citizen Science Reliability.

Ecology and evolution·2025
Same author

Wolbachia-infected pharaoh ant colonies have higher egg production, metabolic rate and worker survival.

The Journal of experimental biology·2024
Same author

Tropical and montane Apis cerana show distinct dance-distance calibration curves.

The Journal of experimental biology·2024

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 10, 2025

SwarmSight: Real-time Tracking of Insect Antenna Movements and Proboscis Extension Reflex Using a Common Preparation and Conventional Hardware
08:13

SwarmSight: Real-time Tracking of Insect Antenna Movements and Proboscis Extension Reflex Using a Common Preparation and Conventional Hardware

Published on: December 25, 2017

8.4K

Distance estimation by Asian honey bees in two visually different landscapes.

Ebi Antony George1, Neethu Thulasi2,3, Patrick L Kohl4

  • 1National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore 560065, India ebiantonyg@ncbs.res.in ebi.antony.george@gmail.com.

The Journal of Experimental Biology
|April 2, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Honey bees use optic flow during flight to gauge distance for their waggle dance. Visual contrast in their environment influences how accurately honey bees (Apis mellifera) calibrate this distance perception.

Keywords:
Apis ceranaApis floreaOptic flowVisual contrastWaggle dance

More Related Videos

Tactile Conditioning And Movement Analysis Of Antennal Sampling Strategies In Honey Bees Apis mellifera L.
10:14

Tactile Conditioning And Movement Analysis Of Antennal Sampling Strategies In Honey Bees Apis mellifera L.

Published on: December 12, 2012

10.8K
Monitoring Colony-level Effects of Sublethal Pesticide Exposure on Honey Bees
10:35

Monitoring Colony-level Effects of Sublethal Pesticide Exposure on Honey Bees

Published on: November 15, 2017

9.4K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Nov 10, 2025

SwarmSight: Real-time Tracking of Insect Antenna Movements and Proboscis Extension Reflex Using a Common Preparation and Conventional Hardware
08:13

SwarmSight: Real-time Tracking of Insect Antenna Movements and Proboscis Extension Reflex Using a Common Preparation and Conventional Hardware

Published on: December 25, 2017

8.4K
Tactile Conditioning And Movement Analysis Of Antennal Sampling Strategies In Honey Bees Apis mellifera L.
10:14

Tactile Conditioning And Movement Analysis Of Antennal Sampling Strategies In Honey Bees Apis mellifera L.

Published on: December 12, 2012

10.8K
Monitoring Colony-level Effects of Sublethal Pesticide Exposure on Honey Bees
10:35

Monitoring Colony-level Effects of Sublethal Pesticide Exposure on Honey Bees

Published on: November 15, 2017

9.4K

Area of Science:

  • Animal behavior
  • Sensory ecology
  • Insect communication

Background:

  • Honey bees navigate using visual cues and communicate food source locations via the waggle dance.
  • The waggle dance's phase duration is calibrated by an internal odometer, likely using optic flow (image motion).
  • Previous studies primarily used Apis mellifera in artificial environments with controlled visual stimuli.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the calibration of the waggle dance odometer in two Asian honey bee species, Apis florea and Apis cerana.
  • To assess the impact of varying natural environments with different visual contrasts on distance estimation.
  • To compare the contrast sensitivity of the waggle dance odometer between species.

Main Methods:

  • Field experiments were conducted with Apis florea and Apis cerana in natural environments.
  • Two distinct vegetation conditions (dense and sparse) were used to create differences in visual contrast.
  • Waggle phase duration was measured in relation to flight distance under these conditions.

Main Results:

  • Apis florea showed a more rapid increase in waggle phase duration with distance in dense vegetation (higher contrast) compared to sparse vegetation.
  • Apis cerana did not exhibit a significant difference in waggle phase calibration between the two vegetation conditions.
  • These results indicate species-specific differences in how visual contrast affects distance estimation.

Conclusions:

  • The waggle dance odometer's calibration is influenced by environmental visual contrast.
  • Contrast sensitivity of the distance perception mechanism may vary among honey bee species.
  • This study highlights the ecological relevance of visual environment on insect communication accuracy.