{"title":"Visual discrimination learning in the Australian stingless bee Tetragonula carbonaria (Hymenoptera: Apidae)","authors":"Faelan Mourmourakis, Andrew B. Barron","doi":"10.1111/aen.12725","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p>Karl von Frisch's ground-breaking research first demonstrated visual learning in the European honey bee (<i>Apis mellifera</i>). The study of Australian native bees and their cognitive abilities, however, is still a relatively new and emerging field. Here we examined visual cognition in the Australian stingless bee, <i>Tetragonula carbonaria</i>. First we tested for any colour preferences in <i>T. carbonaria</i>. Then we set stingless bees with three simple visual discrimination learning tasks using distinct colours (blue or yellow), oriented gratings (horizontal or vertical) and patterns (radial or concentric). In the colour preference task, we found evidence of a weak colour preference, with bees preferring colours blue and purple. In the visual discrimination task, <i>T. carbonaria</i> learned all three tasks in just 10 training trials. Bees learned equally well across the colour, orientation and pattern conditions, suggesting rapid visual learning. Future research should focus on closing knowledge gaps in Australian native bee cognition research, building upon the results of this study and exploring more complex non-elemental learning.</p>","PeriodicalId":8574,"journal":{"name":"Austral Entomology","volume":"64 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1000,"publicationDate":"2024-12-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Austral Entomology","FirstCategoryId":"97","ListUrlMain":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/aen.12725","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"ENTOMOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Karl von Frisch's ground-breaking research first demonstrated visual learning in the European honey bee (Apis mellifera). The study of Australian native bees and their cognitive abilities, however, is still a relatively new and emerging field. Here we examined visual cognition in the Australian stingless bee, Tetragonula carbonaria. First we tested for any colour preferences in T. carbonaria. Then we set stingless bees with three simple visual discrimination learning tasks using distinct colours (blue or yellow), oriented gratings (horizontal or vertical) and patterns (radial or concentric). In the colour preference task, we found evidence of a weak colour preference, with bees preferring colours blue and purple. In the visual discrimination task, T. carbonaria learned all three tasks in just 10 training trials. Bees learned equally well across the colour, orientation and pattern conditions, suggesting rapid visual learning. Future research should focus on closing knowledge gaps in Australian native bee cognition research, building upon the results of this study and exploring more complex non-elemental learning.
期刊介绍:
Austral Entomology is a scientific journal of entomology for the Southern Hemisphere. It publishes Original Articles that are peer-reviewed research papers from the study of the behaviour, biology, biosystematics, conservation biology, ecology, evolution, forensic and medical entomology, molecular biology, public health, urban entomology, physiology and the use and control of insects, arachnids and myriapods. The journal also publishes Reviews on research and theory or commentaries on current areas of research, innovation or rapid development likely to be of broad interest – these may be submitted or invited. Book Reviews will also be considered provided the works are of global significance. Manuscripts from authors in the Northern Hemisphere are encouraged provided that the research has relevance to or broad readership within the Southern Hemisphere. All submissions are peer-reviewed by at least two referees expert in the field of the submitted paper. Special issues are encouraged; please contact the Chief Editor for further information.