Descriptive study of antennation during trophallactic unloading contacts in honeybees Apis mellifera carnica
Trophallaxis, the mouth-to-mouth transfer of food, is a widespread behavior occurring between individuals of eusocial insect societies. Antennal movements during food transfer are, in honeybees, too rapid to be characterized using standard video recordings. Using a high-speed camera (200 frames/s),...
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2003
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Acceso en línea: | https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_00201812_v50_n3_p274_Goyret http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_00201812_v50_n3_p274_Goyret |
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Sumario: | Trophallaxis, the mouth-to-mouth transfer of food, is a widespread behavior occurring between individuals of eusocial insect societies. Antennal movements during food transfer are, in honeybees, too rapid to be characterized using standard video recordings. Using a high-speed camera (200 frames/s), we recorded nectar unloading performed by forager honeybees (Apis mellifera carnica Spinola) within the hive once they returned from collecting sugar solution at a feeder that delivered nectar at a variable rate. Frequency patterns attained a inean value of 13 Hz. Antennation intensity showed a tendency to increase with the reward rate recently exploited by the food donor. This raises the question whether or not antennation intensity is a reliable parameter providing modulatory information related to food-source profitability. |
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