A fascinating aspect of the biology of social insects is their ability to recruit nestmates to food sources. Recruitment and communication mechanisms involved in this process increase the energetic expenses of the individual. On the other hand, the enhance a colony's economic efficiency in exploiting a food source and regulate the energy intake of the colony. Within the different genera of stingless bees (Meliponini) a great diversity of recruitment mechanisms has evolved. Behavioural, bioacoustical and chemical analytical methods are applied to investigate the mechanical signals (thorax vibrations within the nest) and chemical signals (scent marking of the way to the food source as well as of the feeding site itself) of different Meliponini species.

The initial project (FWF P14328; 2000-2003) on the mechanisms underlying recruitment communication in stingless bees (Meliponini) revealed novelties about the thorax vibrations generated by the foragers, as well as about the chemical markings of the way to the food source and the feeding site itself. The current project strives to build up on these findings by investigating following fundamental questions. (1) How are thorax vibrations generated by the foragers transmitted to the hive bees? (2) How are different communication signals (thorax vibrations, scent trail) used in the recruitment process? (3) The chemical markings of scent-trail-laying stingless bees shall be analysed in detail. In order to answer these questions, modern measurement techniques like laser vibrometry, air flow analysis and GC-MS analysis are applied, supported by high quality video analysis and behavioural observations.

Publications related to this project

(11) Schorkopf, D. L. P., Hrncir, M. , Mateus, S., Zucchi, R., Schmidt, V. M. and Barth, F. G. (2009) Mandibular gland secretions of meliponine worker bees: further evidence for their role in inter- and intraspecific defence and aggression and against their role in food source signalling. J. Exp. Biol. 212, 1153-1162. view pdf - view Inside JEB

(10) Barth, F. G., Hrncir, M. and Jarau, S. (2008) Signals and cues in the recruitment behavior of stingless bees (Meliponini). J. Comp. Physiol. A 194, 313-327. view pdf

(9) Schmidt, V. M., Hrncir, M. , Schorkopf, D. L. P., Mateus, S., Zucchi, R. and Barth, F. G. (2008) Food profitability affects the intranidal recruitment behaviour in the stingless bee Nannotrigona testaceicornis. Apidologie 39, 260-272. view pdf

(8) Hrncir, M. , Schorkopf, D. L. P., Schmidt, V. M., Zucchi, R. and Barth, F. G. (2008) The sound field generated by tethered stingless bees (Melipona scutellaris): inferences on its potential as a recruitment mechanism inside the hive. J. Exp. Biol. 211, 686-698. view pdf

(7) Hrncir, M. , Gravel, A.I., Schorkopf, D. L. P., Schmidt, V. M., Zucchi, R. and Barth, F. G. (2008) Thoracic vibrations in stingless bees (Melipona seminigra): Resonances of the thorax influence vibrations associated with flight but not those associated with sound production. J. Exp. Biol. 211, 678-685. view pdf

(6) Schorkopf, D. L. P., Jarau, S., Francke, W., Twele, R., Zucchi, R., Hrncir, M., Schmidt, V. M., Ayasse, M. and Barth, F. G. (2007) Spitting out information. Trigona bees deposit saliva to signal resource locations. Proc. R. Soc. B. 274, 895-898. view pdf - supplemental material

(5) Schmidt, V.M., Schorkopf, D.L.P, Hrncir, M., Zucchi, R. and Barth, F.G. (2006) Collective foraging in a scent trail laying stingless bee (Trigona recursa): dependence on food profitability and sequence of discovery. Anim. Behav. 72, 1309-1317. view pdf

(4) Hrncir, M., Schmidt, V.M., Schorkopf, D.L.P., Jarau, S., Zucchi, R. and Barth, F.G. (2006) Vibrating the food receivers: a direct way of signal transmission in bees (Melipona seminigra). J. Comp. Physiol. A 192, 879-887. view pdf

(3) Schmidt, V.M., Zucchi, R. and Barth, F.G. (2006) Recruitment in a scent trail laying stingless bee (Scaptotrigona aff. depilis): Changes with reduction but not with increase of the energy gain. Apidologie 37, 487-500. view pdf

(2) Hrncir, M., Barth, F.G. and Tautz, J. (2006) Vibratory and airborne-sound signals in bee communication (Hymenoptera). In: Insect Sounds and Communication: Physiology, Behaviour, and Evolution (ed. S. Drosopoulos and M.F. Claridge), pp 421-436. Boca Raton, London, New York: CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group. view pdf

(1) Schmidt, V.M., Zucchi, R. and Barth, F.G. (2005) Scent marks left by Nannotrigona testaceicornis at the feeding site: cues rather than signals. Apidologie 36, 285-291. view pdf