CAN SOCIAL BEES BE INFLUENCED TO CHOOSE A SPECIFIC FEEDING STATION BYADDING THE SCENT OF THE STATION TO THE HIVE AIR

The behavioral response of honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) and bumblebee s (Bombus terrestris L.) to the flower volatiles 2-ethyl-1-hexanol and myrcene isolated in situ from white clover (Trifolium repens L.) and oil seed rape (Brassica napus oleifera), respectively, were investigat ed on a rotating arena with 12 visually identical, but differently sce nted, feeding stations. When locating a feeding station, neutral in bo th shape and color, foragers used scent as orientation cue. Introducti on of 2-ethyl-1-hexanol to the honeybee hives induced significantly mo re visits to sites containing this compound. In contrast, introduction of myrcene to the hives did not influence the foraging choices of hon eybees significantly. No effect of hive scent composition on the choic es made by bumblebees could be detected. ''Experienced'' bumble bees, i.e., bees with more than five visits to the feeding stations, tended to visit a particular position on the arena without discriminating bet ween the two volatiles. In contrast, honeybees showed no positioning b ehavior on the arena, using primarily odoriferous stimuli. The observe d influences of addition of scents to the hives are discussed in relat ion to the general knowledge on foraging behavior of social bees and t he emission of volatiles from leaves and flowers.