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Behavioural Pharmacology in Classical Conditioning of the Proboscis Extension Response in Honeybees Apis mellifera
Published on: January 24, 2011
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Honey bees switch mechanisms to drink deep nectar efficiently.
Jiangkun Wei1, Alejandro Rico-Guevara2,3, Susan W Nicolson4
1School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen 518107, People's Republic of China.
Summary
Honey bees utilize multiple feeding strategies, adapting their tongue use to efficiently collect nectar from various flowers. This versatility allows them to exploit a wider range of floral resources.
Area of Science:
- Animal behavior
- Insect physiology
- Ecology
Background:
- Animal feeding mechanisms dictate resource exploitation.
- Floral nectarivores, like honey bees, face choices influenced by flower depth and nectar properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the diverse strategies honey bees employ for efficient nectar extraction.
- To understand how honey bees adapt their feeding mechanisms to varying nectar concentrations and floral depths.
Main Methods:
- Observation of honey bee feeding behaviors.
- Analysis of the honey bee feeding apparatus and its functional capabilities.
- Correlation of feeding strategies with nectar properties and corolla depth.
Main Results:
- Honey bees employ both lapping (dipping, capillary loading) and sucking feeding mechanisms.
- The choice between lapping and sucking is dynamically adjusted based on nectar-mouth distance and sugar concentration.
- The honey bee feeding apparatus functions as a versatile tool, switching between modes for optimal ingestion efficiency.
Conclusions:
- Honey bees possess adaptable feeding mechanisms enabling efficient nectar extraction across diverse floral environments.
- These versatile strategies enhance honey bee foraging efficiency and adaptability to a broad spectrum of floral resources.
