Nest Thermoregulation in Social Insects

Nesting behavior of the paper waspPolistes dominulain Central Europe—a flexible system for expanding into new areas

“…As a thermophilic species (Blü thgen 1956, Witt 2009), originally native to the warm temperate Mediterranean area (Yamane 1996 and because of the incapability of Polistes wasps to warm their brood (Steiner 1930, reviewed in Jones andOldroyd 2007) they are dependent on warm sheltered nesting sites (Heinrich 1993). Our excessive screening of abandoned (n ¼ 147) and newly built nests (n ¼ 63) of P. dominula in the vicinity of Wü rzburg has in fact disclosed that all nests-without any exception-were found within barns and other constructions related to human habitats.…”

Observation system for the control of the hive environment by the honeybee (Apis mellifera)

“…Honeybees are known to control their hive environment to survive drastic changes in the field environment (Jones & Oldroyd, 2007). Thermoregulation of the hive is well known as the key to the ecological success of social insects (Wilson, 1990).…”

“…Thermoregulation of the hive is well known as the key to the ecological success of social insects (Wilson, 1990). Characteristics and mechanisms of thermoregulation have been intensively studied, and honeybees have been shown to maintain their brood nest temperature within a fairly narrow range-between about 33ºC and 36ºC-over a wide range of outside temperatures (Jones, Myerscough, Graham, & Oldroyd, 2004;Jones & Oldroyd, 2007). Kronenberg and Heller (1982) found that workers regulate temperature by fanning hot air out of the nest when the temperature rises above 38ºC.…”

Weight of evidence evaluation of a network of adverse outcome pathways linking activation of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in honey bees to colony death

“…Foraged water can be used for evaporative cooling of the hive during warm weather (as reviewed by Jones and Oldroyd, 2006). Nectar and pollen collected by the foragers are the sole food source for the colony, with nectar providing carbohydrates and pollen providing lipids, protein, vitamins, and essential minerals (Brodschneider and Crailsheim, 2010).…”

“…This colony coordinated clustering eliminates heat loss, prevents individual bees from experiencing chill coma (bees with thorax temperature below 9-11°C cannot activate flight muscles for heat generation), and ensures access to food storage with minimal energy expenditure (reviewed in Jones and Oldroyd, 2006). Within the clusters, worker honey bees provide endothermic heat through shivering thoracic flight muscles as a primary mechanism for maintaining thermal homeostasis in the brood cells and throughout the colony (Stabentheiner et al, 2003).…”