Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1073/pnas.0408550102
Title (Primary) Honey bees navigate according to a map-like spatial memory
Author Menzel, R.; Greggers, U.; Smith, A.; Berger, S.; Brandt, R.; Brunke, S.; Bundrock, G.; Hülse, S.; Plümpe, T.; Schaupp, F.; Schüttler, E.; Stach, S.; Stindt, J.; Stollhoff, N.; Watzl, S.
Source Titel Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Year 2005
Department NSF
Volume 102
Issue 8
Page From 3040
Page To 3045
Language englisch
Abstract By using harmonic radar, we report the complete flight paths of displaced bees. Test bees forage at a feeder or are recruited by a waggle dance indicating the feeder. The flights are recorded after the bees are captured when leaving the hive or the feeder and are released at an unexpected release site. A sequence of behavioral routines become apparent: (i) initial straight flights in which they fly the course that they were on when captured (foraging bees) or that they learned during dance communication (recruited bees); (ii) slow search flights with frequent changes of direction in which they attempt to “get their bearings”; and (iii) straight and rapid flights directed either to the hive or first to the feeding station and then to the hive. These straight homing flights start at locations all around the hive and at distances far out of the visual catchment area around the hive or the feeding station. Two essential criteria of a map-like spatial memory are met by these results: bees can set course at any arbitrary location in their familiar area, and they can choose between at least two goals. This finding suggests a rich, map-like organization of spatial memory in navigating honey bees.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=3614
Menzel, R., Greggers, U., Smith, A., Berger, S., Brandt, R., Brunke, S., Bundrock, G., Hülse, S., Plümpe, T., Schaupp, F., Schüttler, E., Stach, S., Stindt, J., Stollhoff, N., Watzl, S. (2005):
Honey bees navigate according to a map-like spatial memory
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 102 (8), 3040 - 3045 10.1073/pnas.0408550102