Experienced bumblebees are not inclined to share their knowledge on pollination with the newcomers, a new study indicated. “Like other pollinators, bees face complex routing challenges when collecting nectar and pollen – they have to learn how to link patches of flowers together in the most efficient way, to minimise their travel distance and flight costs, just like in a travelling salesman problem,” informed Mathieu Lihoreau, Queen Mary University of London (QMUL).

“We wanted to monitor the way bumblebees behave when they bump into each other at flowers – would they compete, attack each other, or tolerate each other,” mentioned Lars Chittka from QMUL.

For the bees research study, researchers set up one of the biggest outdoor flight cages which measured massive 20 metres by 40 metres.

Inside, they installed number of artificial flowers which were fitted with motion-sensitive video cameras. To attract bees, these flowers were supplied with controlled nectar flow.

It was important that the bees visit only the artificial flowers and that’s why they mowed the lawn every day alleviate all the natural ones. Subsequently, they allowed two bees in simultaneously – one experienced resident, and the other one was a newcomer.

They anticipated that the newcomers will save some time by simply following the routes used by experienced resident bees. The newcomers did try to copy the seasoned bees, but, the seasoned bees really did not like their behaviour, and frequently fought with the newcomers and tried to drive them away from flowers.

“Our study is the first to examine the foraging routes followed by multiple bees at the same time,” informed Lihoreau.

“Responses to intense initial competition between bees for nectar could explain how pollinators gradually learn to visit different patches of flowers across the landscape,” he added.

“This work helps us understand how animals with relatively simple brains find workable solutions to complex route-finding problems,” commented Nigel Raine, University of London.

“Understanding how bees find and compete for flowers in the landscape is a critical first step to conserving these animals, and the essential pollination services they provide to crops and wild plants,” Raine commented.

The paper was published in the journal PLOS ONE.

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Author: Technology and Beyond