Aversive learning in Bombus terrestris Audax (Hymenoptera: Apidae): responses to electric shock in a simulated environment

Document Type : Paper, English

Authors

Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

10.61186/jesi.43.4.1

Abstract

The study of animal behavior, particularly in insects, is crucial for understanding their biological and evolutionary aspects, with wide-ranging applications in agricultural science, pest management, conservation biology, and neuroscience. Investigating cognitive characteristics, specifically aversive learning, plays a pivotal role in comprehending the success of insects. This adaptive ability enables animals to efficiently cope with the stressful factors in their environment. In this study, we investigated the aversive learning capabilities of Bombus terrestris Audax workers, crucial pollinators across diverse ecosystems. Bees were trained and tested in a flight arena using artificial flowers equipped with electric shocks to simulate conditions wherebees could associate punishment alongside food resources with available cues. The result suggested that bees possess the ability to simultaneously detect potential threats and food resources, indicating a dual aversive-appetitive memory. Furthermore, comparing groups trained with aversive (electric shock) and neutral (distilled water) stimuli showed that danger cues led to faster learning and stronger memory formation. This conditioning setup aimed to simulate real-life foraging situations, exploring bee responses when confronted with potential dangers. These findings provide insights into the survival strategies of insects in challenging environments that negatively impact bee populations. 

Graphical Abstract

Aversive learning in Bombus terrestris Audax (Hymenoptera: Apidae): responses to electric shock in a simulated environment

Keywords

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© 2023 by Author(s), Published by the Entomological Society of Iran

This Work is Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial 4.0 International Public License

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Journal of Entomological Society of Iran
Volume 43, Issue 4
November 2023
Pages 323-335

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