Apidologie 35 (2004) 619-622
DOI: 10.1051/apido:2004053

Interspecific differences in response to novel landmarks in bumblebees (Bombus sp.)

Dave Goulson, Ben Darvill, Jon Ellis, Mairi E. Knight and Mick E. Hanley

Division of Biodiversity and Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, Biomedical Sciences Building, Bassett Crescent East, Southampton SO16 7PX, UK

(Received 30 October 2003; revised 12 March 2004; accepted 19 March 2004)

Abstract - We provide evidence for interspecific differences in the behaviour of bumblebees which suggests that there may be important differences in the way that they navigate. Bumblebees commonly investigate the novel landmark presented by a human standing in open countryside. When doing so they perform a characteristic flight similar to that observed when a naïve bee first leaves the nest, suggesting that they are memorising the location of an unfamiliar landmark. We compare the frequency with which different bee species perform this behaviour. Striking patterns emerge. Only workers of certain bumblebee species were recorded investigating novel human landmarks, notably Bombus lapidarius and B. soroeensis. Other species such as B. pascuorum, B. hortorum and B. pratorum never performed this behaviour, yet were abundant in the study area. We suggest that this behaviour may be indicative of species with long foraging ranges and therefore greater need to pay attention to landmarks.

Key words: Bombus / navigation / foraging range / memory

Corresponding author: Dave Goulson DG3@soton.ac.uk

© INRA, EDP Sciences, DIB, AGIB 2004