HONEY-BEE (APIS-MELLIFERA) USE OF FLOWER FORM 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 shape (three-dimensional form) information alone as the basis for a complex foraging strategy, and if they can, which strategy is used (e.g., ener gy maximization, risk aversion, individual constancy)? Horizontal two- dimensional, Vertical two-dimensional, and L-Shape three-dimensional f lowers were used in dimorphic artificial flower patches. When rewards were identical in flower morphs, bees showed no uniform preference. So me bees foraged randomly, while other bees had flower morph preference s, but not all to the same flower type. When rewards differed between flower morphs, bees utilized flower form to restrict flower visitation to the morph offering the greater caloric reward. Forager behavior th us conformed only to expectations of the energy maximization model. Fo rager ''error'' rate (choice of the flower morph offering the lower ca loric reward) within flower-form dimorphic patches, however, was appro ximately three times that observed when only a color dimorphism existe d. Bees changed flower morph preference usually on their first visit t o the flower patch after rewards were altered, often after visiting ju st one flower with the lower caloric reward. Increasing accuracy in ch oosing the more rewarding flower morph on return trips was not general ly observed, as might be expected with gradual learning or a prolonged conditioning response.