Foraging honeybees (Apis mellifera) were trained individually to choos
e between 2 identical targets set close together on a large table in a
heterogeneous surround. Discrimination was facilitated by the introdu
ction of a small object that was nearer to 1 target than the other. It
was also facilitated by the introduction of a longer object or a curv
ed shield that was not differentially placed with respect to the targe
ts but designed to encourage a fixed orientation to them. The results
support a distinction between place learning and position learning in
honeybees.