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Investigating the foraging, guarding and drifting behaviors of commercial Bombus terrestris
Version 2 2023-06-12, 07:41
Version 1 2023-06-10, 02:36
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-12, 07:41 authored by Ellen L MacKenzie, Dave GoulsonDave Goulson, Ellen L RotheraySocial insects have high levels of cooperation and division of labor. In bumble bees this is partly size-based, with larger bees performing tasks outside the nest and smaller bees remaining inside, although bumble bees still display considerable behavioral plasticity. The level of specialization in tasks outside the colony, including foraging, guarding and drifting (entering a foreign colony), is currently unknown for bumble bees. This study aimed to assess division of labor between outside tasks and the degree of specialization in foraging, guarding, and switching colonies in commercially reared bumble bees placed in the field. Nine factory-bought Bombus terrestris colonies were placed on three farms in Sussex, UK, between June and August 2015. Forty workers from each colony were radio-tagged and a reader on the colony entrance recorded the date, time and bee ID as they passed. The length and frequency of foraging trips and guarding behavior were calculated, and drifting recorded. The mean (±SD) length of foraging trips was 45 ± 36 min, and the mean number of foraging trips per day was 7.75 ± 7.71. Low levels of specialization in guarding or foraging behavior were found; however, some bees appeared to guard more frequently than others, and twenty bees were categorized as guards. Five bees appeared to exhibit repeated “stealing” behavior, which may have been a specialist task. The division of labor between tasks was not size-based. It is concluded that commercial bumble bees are flexible in performing outside nest tasks and may have diverse foraging strategies including intra-specific nest robbing.
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Published version
Journal
Journal of Insect BehaviorISSN
0892-7553Publisher
SpringerExternal DOI
Issue
5-6Volume
34Page range
334-345Department affiliated with
- Evolution, Behaviour and Environment Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2022-02-14First Open Access (FOA) Date
2022-02-14First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2022-02-14Usage metrics
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