Waggle dances in absconding colonies of the red dwarf honeybee, Apis florea

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Author listDuangphakdee O., Hepburn H.R., Radloff S.E., Pirk C.W.W., Rodim P., Wongsiri S.

PublisherSpringer

Publication year2012

JournalInsectes Sociaux (0020-1812)

Volume number59

Issue number4

Start page571

End page577

Number of pages7

ISSN0020-1812

eISSN1420-9098

URLhttps://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84867573414&doi=10.1007%2fs00040-012-0254-6&partnerID=40&md5=5434d7a87373a7de9b0a4f2afb4c8f58

LanguagesEnglish-Great Britain (EN-GB)


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Abstract

The directional information encoded in the waggle dances of absconding colonies of Apis florea shows how different sites are advertised during decision-making. Colonies of A. florea were observed from the inception of absconding until the swarm settled at a new nest site. The number of waggle dancers at the beginning of the absconding sequence was low, gradually increased and then declined shortly before liftoff. During the last 2 to 0.5 h before liftoff, the dances still indicated different directions. This significantly decreased in the last 0.5 h until only one or two dance directions were being advertised. All colonies reached a near consensus in the last 20 dances before liftoff. The swarm flight path is meandering so the actual distance flown is about twice that indicated by the dances. During the last 3 min the waggle dance in most colonies showed nest target angles that were closely clustered indicating that the final directions advertised were close to the chosen target site. In all absconding/migratory species of honeybees thus far studied, there is a special dance associated with absconding that appears not to select specific destinations but rather a particular direction in search of a new nesting area. ฉ 2012 International Union for the Study of Social Insects (IUSSI).


Keywords

AbscondingApis floreaNest siteWaggle dance


Last updated on 2023-26-09 at 07:36