Time–place learning in the bee Melipona fasciculata (Apidae, Meliponini)

Nectar and pollen are highly sought-after resources by different species of animals, including several stingless bees. Thus, learning the location of and time when a resource is available should be advantageous. This study investigated whether the stingless bee, Melipona fasciculata, exhibits food-a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Apidologie 2014-03, Vol.45 (2), p.257-265
Main Authors: de Jesus, Thiago Nazareno Conceição Silva, Venturieri, Giorgio Cristino, Contrera, Felipe Andrés León
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural sciences
Animal biology
Animal production studies
Animal productions
Apiculture
Biodiversity
Biological and medical sciences
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Ecology, environment
Entomology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Insecta
Invertebrate Zoology
Invertebrates
learning
Life Sciences
Melipona
nectar
Original Article
pollen
recruitment
stingless bees
Terrestrial animal productions
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Summary:Nectar and pollen are highly sought-after resources by different species of animals, including several stingless bees. Thus, learning the location of and time when a resource is available should be advantageous. This study investigated whether the stingless bee, Melipona fasciculata, exhibits food-anticipatory activity to maximize the exploitation of a renewable resource, an artificial food source with a restricted time schedule, which simulates an inflorescence. Our results showed that food-anticipatory activity occurs in this bee species, and foragers made periodic inspection visits before and after the feeder was available. These capabilities may have evolved to maximize the exploitation of profitable, short-lived food sources, as well as to minimize competition with other colonies and other animals. These differences are discussed and compared with different recruitment strategies and resource exploitation strategies in bees.
ISSN:0044-8435
1297-9678
DOI:10.1007/s13592-013-0245-2