Descriptive study of the antennation during trophallactic unloading contacts in honeybees Apis mellifera C

GOYRET, JOAQUÍN; FARINA WALTER M.

INSECTES SOCIAUX

BIRKHAUSER VERLAG AG

Lugar: BASEL; Año: 2003 vol. 50 p. 274 - 276

0020-1812

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 mean 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.