HONEY-BEE (APIS-MELLIFERA) USE OF FLOWER PIGMENT PATTERNS IN MAKING FORAGING CHOICES

Honey bee forager use of flower pigment patterns (patterns) was examin ed in the context of a repetitive decision process of flower choice ma de within-visits that occurred over several trips to the flower patch (among-visits). The study examined whether foragers can utilize patter n information alone as the basis for a complex foraging strategy, and if they can, which strategy is used (e.g., energy maximization, risk a version, individual constancy)? Three experiments were performed: 1) B lue-White Radial-pattern versus Blue-White Bilateral-pattern, 2) Blue- White Radial-patterns with reversed color placement, and 3) Blue versu s White Bowers (control). When rewards were identical in flower morphs bees foraged randomly. When rewards differed between flower morphs, b ees utilized flower pattern to restrict flower visitation to the morph offering the greater caloric reward Forager behavior thus conformed o nly to expectations of the energy maximization model. Forager error ra te (choice of the flower morph offering the lower caloric reward) with in pattern dimorphic flower patches, however, was 32 percent-over thre e times that observed when only a color dimorphism existed. Bees chang ed flower morph preference usually on their first visit to the flower patch after rewards were altered, often after visiting just one flower with the lower caloric reward. Increasing accuracy in choosing the mo re rewarding flower morph on return trips was not generally observed, as might be expected with gradual learning or a prolonged conditioning response.