I. Aguilar et M. Sommeijer, The deposition of anal excretions by Melipona favosa foragers (Apidae : Meliponinae): behavioural observations concerning the location of food sources, APIDOLOGIE, 32(1), 2001, pp. 37-48
Melipona favosa consistently deposited anal excretions while foraging. Anal
depositions were released more frequently and by more bees on artificial f
ood sources at a greater distance from the nest. Our hypothesis that these
deposits serve as scent marks is supported by experimental evidence regardi
ng the choices made by foraging bees arriving at food sources either with o
r without anal excretions. The clearly reduced visitation rate in the exper
imental situation without depositions indicates the importance of these cue
s during visitation of the food source.