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

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Foraging success influences foraging motivation in ants.

The Journal of experimental biology·2026

Same author

Updating an allocentric goal from lateralised egocentric visual memories.

Nature communications·2026

Same author

Poison frogs rely on vision for homing in natural environments.

Proceedings. Biological sciences·2026

Same author

Route-centric ant-inspired memories enable panoramic route-following in a car-like robot.

Nature communications·2025

Same author

Is this scenery worth exploring? Insight into the visual encoding of navigating ants.

The Journal of experimental biology·2025

Same author

Ants integrate proprioception as well as visual context and efference copies to make robust predictions.

Nature communications·2024

Same journal

Pitch selectivity in ferret auditory cortex.

Current biology : CB·2026

Same journal

A cell size-dependent competition between geometry and polarity governs nuclear and spindle positioning in early embryos.

Current biology : CB·2026

Same journal

Trophic cascades drive sustainability in the agricultural heritage rice-fish coculture system.

Current biology : CB·2026

Same journal

Tracking Satb2-positive retinal ganglion cells in zebrafish unveils developmental functional reorganization.

Current biology : CB·2026

Same journal

RhoGAP54D promotes cell size asymmetry and inhibits pulsatile myosin activity in Drosophila neural stem cells.

Current biology : CB·2026

Same journal

Increased rates of hybridization in swordtails are associated with water pollution.

Current biology : CB·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 5, 2025

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

Insect navigation: Bumblebees walk the walk.

Antoine Wystrach¹

¹Research Centre on Animal Cognition, CBI, University Paul Sabatier, CNRS, Toulouse, France.

Current Biology : CB

|July 12, 2022

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Bumblebees demonstrate path integration, a sophisticated navigation skill, within a lab setting. This finding offers new insights into insect brain mechanisms for spatial orientation and movement tracking.

More Related Videos

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

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

Published on: December 25, 2017

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

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

Published on: December 12, 2012

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Sep 5, 2025

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

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

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

Published on: December 25, 2017

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

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

Published on: December 12, 2012

Area of Science:

Behavioral Ecology
Neuroscience
Insect Cognition

Background:

Path integration is a crucial navigation strategy enabling animals to track their position relative to a starting point.
Understanding the neural basis of path integration in insects can provide insights into fundamental principles of spatial cognition.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the capacity of bumblebees (Bombus spp.) to perform path integration while walking.
To explore the potential of a controlled laboratory environment for studying insect navigation mechanisms.

Main Methods:

Bumblebees were trained to navigate a small, enclosed arena.
Their walking paths and movements were meticulously tracked and analyzed to assess spatial accuracy.

Main Results:

Bumblebees exhibited behaviors consistent with path integration, accurately estimating distances and directions traveled.
The study provides empirical evidence for path integration in bumblebees under controlled conditions.

Conclusions:

Bumblebees possess the cognitive ability to perform path integration, suggesting complex spatial processing capabilities.
This research establishes a foundation for future studies on the neural underpinnings of insect navigation and spatial memory.