NON-STINGING AGGRESSIVE RESPONSES OF WORKER HONEYBEES TO HIVEMATES, INTRUDER BEES AND BEES AFFECTED WITH CHRONIC BEE PARALYSIS
Author(s)
N. H. DRUM AND W. C. ROTHENBUHLER
Abstract
Responses of groups of worker honeybees (Apis mellifera) to bees afflicted with chronic bee paralysis, intruder bees and hivemates were compared. A test bee was introduced into a wooden cage containing 30 workers. The responses of the caged workers to the test bee were monitored for 3 min. This procedure was repeated on 5 afternoons with newly populated cages and 10 fresh test bees of each type for a total of SO bees with paralysis, SO intruders and SO hivemates. Laboratory temperature was maintained at about 24·4°C. The type of response was the same for each class of test bee: (1) antennal investigation followed by (2) attacks which consisted of mild nudging, nibbling and pulling of body hair, and seizing an appendage and pulling. When an attacked bee attempted to escape, attacks appeared to become more severe. Bees with paralysis received a significantly greater response from caged bees than either hivemates or intruders on the basis of number of investigations, seconds until attack, number of attacks, seconds under attack, and maximum number of simultaneous attackers. Other investigators have proposed that the honeybee may possess a single pattern of non-stinging aggressive behaviour which is elicited by several different stimuli. This study supports their proposal.
