On the scale of a bee, the flowers of the field are widely separated from each other, and if you go from one to another without following a certain order, the energy expenditure is so great that it may not be compensated by the energy obtained from the collected nectar. However, bees are able to find the most efficient route to take advantage of their exits from the nest, according to a study published in the journal PLos Biology , the first to demonstrate the ability of bees to orient and memory under natural conditions.
The researchers, from Queen Mary University of London, created five artificial flowers equipped with motion sensors and impregnated with sucrose droplets and placed them in a field one kilometer in diameter. “Using mathematical models, we dissected the bumblebee learning process and identified how this optimal solution can be deciphered without a map . Initially, the routes were long and complex, and the insects returned to visit empty flowers several times,” he explained. Mathieu Lihoreau, one of the researchers. “As they gained experience, the bumblebees refined their routes through trial and error .”
In addition, the study has also tested the memory capacity of these animals: “when removing a flower, the insects continued searching in that place. Thus, it seems that bees do not easily forget a fruitful flower”, has pointed out Lars Chittka, also an author. from work. On the other hand, the recordings showed that each insect had a favorite destination and route.
The study can help protect these animals. “Seemingly complex behaviors can be described by relatively simple rules that can be described mathematically,” said Chris Rawlings, a participant in the study. “This means that we can now use mathematics to know when the behavior of bees may be affected by their environment and to assess, for example, the impact of changes in the landscape .”
