Is pollen a reward for associative learning in honeybees (Apis mellifera)?

GRÜTER, CHRISTOPH; ARENAS, ANDRÉS; FARINA, WALTER M

INSECTES SOCIAUX

Springer

Lugar: Heidelberg; Año: 2008 p. 425 - 427

0020-1812

The ability to learn an association between floral characteristics such as its odor, color and shape and a reward such as nectar is key to honeybee foraging success. Here, we tested if also pollen could function as a reward for associative learning in honeybees. We found that large proportions of bees with and without field experience showed an unconditioned response, the extension of the proboscis, after touching their antennae with bee-collected pollen. Furthermore, bees readily learn to associate an odor with pollen in a classical conditioning assay. We suggest that pollen might play an important role as a reward for free-flying bees.