Some Aspects of the Foraging Behaviour of Bumble-Bees

摘要: Bumble-bees foraging an Hound's-tongue return to the same plants again and for a period of 10 days or more. When are close together (6' less apart), they visit them in rather irregular fashion, experiments show that, while have some knowledge position individual with respect other landmarks, bees responding largely general form plants. They become conditioned very rapidly after few visits plants, when flowers. On hand, visiting more distant than (12') 4 m apart, reacting almost entirely site each. This, it has been shown, fix great accuracy during one brief orientation flights upon leaving plant their first it. often find partly hidden course rambling 'searching flights', which usually start from central group After short time develop distinct route among flight is direct, contrast wavering within group, where frequently react search flowers, on flowerless resemble form. It suggested that much this behaviour direct adaptation because its though yielding abundant nectar, so small inconspicuous. This confirmed by comparison Foxglove, large, conspicuous Here rely stimuli flowers never without learn practically nothing positions together, but do sites these about 12 feet next nearest. Unlike Hound's-tongue, Foxglove firmly colour not paper models any purple, closely resembling real These results bumble-bees most flexible can adapt themselves suit different features visit. probably represent two extremes, between there may be many both play part guiding bees. The evolutionary implications work briefly discussed.