Previous experience in a natural environment with a stimulus has lasting influences on honey bee behavior, as demonstrated in laboratory studies of appetitive conditioning. However, it is unknown whether the same holds true for studies of aversive conditioning. Aversive conditioning is important for insects such as honey bees to survive environmental risks. Previous experience in natural settings may lead to maladaptive behavioral patterns in bees exposed to new risks. This study presents the first examination of the effect of a visual stimulus presented in a naturalistic setting on aversive conditioning, using the shuttle box choice chamber paradigm. The present study examines both the effect of the visual stimuli, as well as differences present between the Apis mellifera subspecies of mellifera and ligustica . Results support the presence of behavioral biases based on the visual stimulus presented prior to the experimental sessions.aversive conditioning / memory carry-over / bias / honey bee / Apis mellifera mellifera / Apis mellifera ligustica / shuttle box

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