Coordinating a group departure: who produces the piping signals on honeybee swarms? |
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Authors: | P Kirk Visscher Thomas D Seeley |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA;(2) Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA |
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Abstract: | A swarm of honeybees provides a striking example of an animal group performing a synchronized departure for a new location;
in this case, thousands of bees taking off at once to fly to a new home. However, the means by which this is achieved remain
unclear. Shortly before takeoff, one hears a crescendo of a high-pitched mechanical signal—worker piping—so we explored the
role of this signal in coordinating a swarm’s mass takeoff. Specifically, we examined whether exclusively nest site scouts
produce the worker piping signal or whether it is produced in a relay or chain reaction fashion. We found no evidence that
bees other than the scouts that have visited the swarm’s chosen nest site produce piping signals. This absence of relay communication
in piping suggests that it is a signal that only primes swarms for takeoff and that the release of takeoff is triggered by
some other signal or cue; perhaps the takeoff of bees on the swarm periphery as they reach flight temperature in response
to piping. |
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Keywords: | Apis mellifera Decision-making Group movement Piping Positive feedback |
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