Importance of social stimuli for the development of learning capability in honeybees

Abstract

The learning ability of the European honeybee, Apis mellifera, is well known. However, in a proboscis-extension reflex (PER) assay, newly emerged and very young worker bees could not associate a given odor (conditioned stimulus, CS) with a sucrose reward (unconditioned stimulus, US): This ability was acquired 5 to 9 days after emergence in workers, while it was accomplished 2 to 5 days after emergence in drones, probably reflecting the earlier onset of flight in drones. When workers are reared individually in a confined condition deprived of colony odor and other social stimuli, they do not develop the ability even after 9 days after emergence. In a series of experiments subjecting the bees to the confined condition for various lengths and timings, the important period for acquiring the learning ability was from day 2 to 6 after emergence. However, even bees that acquired the ability lost it when exposed to the confined (stimuli-deprived) condition for the next 15 days, meaning that the continuous input of appropriate sensory stimuli is essential for both acquiring and maintaining the learning capability.

The colony environment modulates sleep in honey bee workers

“…The findings presented above add to the body of evidence on the pervasive influence of the social environment on the behavior and physiology of honey bees Ichikawa and Sasaki, 2003;Maleszka et al, 2009). The social manipulations reported here also influenced the development of circadian rhythms in the same young honey bees .…”

Expression of the dopamine transporter in the brain of the honeybee, Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

“…Dopamine is also implicated in aversive learning with punishment and blocking dopamine receptors is reported to suppress aversive learning (Vergoz et al., 2007). Although developmental changes in aversive learning in honeybee are not well known, the appetitive learning abilities of workers and drones have been shown to increase during one week after their emergence (Ichikawa and Sasaki, 2003). It is also assumed that foragers have a higher information processing ability than nurses from the differences in behavioral complexity.…”

Apis melliferabees acquire long-term olfactory memories within the colony

“…According to the observed percentage (68%) of CRs, it is reasonable to assume that both foragers and younger bees acquired longterm olfactory memories, though the relative proportions of both groups remain unknown and their particular learning performances cannot be compared. Indeed, both foragers and younger bees learn olfactory cues under controlled laboratory conditions (Ray & Ferneyhough 1999;Ichikawa & Sasaki 2003). It has been recently reported that trophallaxis, the exchange of liquid food by mouth (Wilson 1971), allows bees to learn nectar scents and leads to longterm olfactory memories under controlled laboratory conditions, i.e.…”