Issue |
Apidologie
Volume 32, Number 1, January-February 2001
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Page(s) | 105 - 111 | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/apido:2001115 |
Apidologie 32 (2001) 105-111
Homing ability of the bumblebee Bombus terrestris (Hymenoptera: Apidae)
David Goulson and Jane C. StoutBiodiversity and Ecology Division, School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Biomedical Sciences Building, Bassett Crescent East, Southampton SO16 7PX, UK
(Received 8 August 2000; revised 18 October 2000; accepted 14 November 2000)
Abstract
The ability of bumblebees to locate their nest site following artificial displacement
was investigated. Bombus terrestris (Hymenoptera: Apidae) workers were marked with
numbered tags and displaced up to 15 km from their nest. Bees returned from distances
of up to 9.8 km, with the proportion of bees returning declining with distance of the
release site from the nest. Bees were slow to return to their nests, often taking
several days when even the most distant sites were all within 1 h direct flight time.
These findings concur with those of earlier studies on various Hymenoptera, and they
are consistent with previous suggestions that the most probable homing mechanism is
a systematic search until familiar landmarks are encountered. Our results also suggest
that the natural foraging range of B. terrestris may span several km.
Key words: Bombus terrestris / central place foraging / navigation / home range
Correspondence and reprints: David Goulson
e-mail: dg3@soton.ac.uk
© INRA, EDP Sciences, DIB, AGIB 2001