Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Heather M. Hines, Shelby Kerrin Kilpatrick, Istvan Miko, Daniel Snellings, Margarita M. Lopez-Uribe, Li Tian
Summary: Bumble bees have different types of setal morphologies on their body, with high density of plumose setae on the head and mesosoma. The variation in metasomal plumosity shows strong phylogenetic signal and can be used for species delimitation research. These setae may serve various functions including pollen collection, thermoregulation, and mechanosensory functions. This study provides insights into the development and function of setae in bumble bees.
Article
Ecology
Douglas B. Sponsler, Fabrice Requier, Katharina Kallnik, Alice Classen, Fabienne Maihoff, Johanna Sieger, Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter
Summary: This study investigates bumble bee-flower interactions along an elevational gradient in the German Alps. The findings show that bumble bee richness increases with elevation before leveling off at the highest sites, demonstrating their adaptation to cold temperatures and short growing seasons. Floral richness peaks at mid-elevation, while overall interaction beta-diversity is mainly caused by turnover in the floral community. Bumble bee communities are relatively robust to the elevational gradient, while plant communities are more sensitive.
Article
Entomology
Giulia Calderai, Beatrice Baggiani, Samuele Bianchi, Valentina Pierucci, Mariagrazia Foti, Filippo Scibetta, David Baracchi
Summary: The study found that GABA does not affect bumble bee foraging preference, as bees were able to successfully learn to visit rewarding flowers regardless of the concentration of GABA. However, bumble bees that experienced GABA at natural doses remained loyal to unrewarding flowers for a longer period of time.
ENTOMOLOGIA GENERALIS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Matthew W. Austin, Amber D. Tripodi, James P. Strange, Aimee S. Dunlap
Summary: Human-modified landscapes can increase intraspecific trait variation. This study focuses on the body size variation of five bumble bee species across an urban gradient and finds evidence of geographic clines induced by plasticity. Low genetic diversity and inbreeding may affect the survival risk of these species.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Felicity Muth, Emily Breslow, Anne S. Leonard
Summary: Octopamine has diverse effects on invertebrate nervous systems and plays a role in foraging behavior and learning. The role of octopamine in bumble bees, a model species for foraging and learning research, was explored. It was found that octopamine had similar effects on bumble bees as honey bees, but higher doses were required.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Hiruni Samadi Galpayage Dona, Cwyn Solvi, Amelia Kowalewska, Kaarle Makela, HaDi MaBouDi, Lars Chittka
Summary: In this study, we found that bumble bees engage in play behavior by rolling wooden balls, fulfilling the criteria for animal play and resembling play behavior in other animals. The results contribute to our understanding of insect sentience and provide further evidence for the presence of positive affective states in these animals.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Joseph S. Wilson, Aaron D. Pan, Sussy Alvarez, Olivia Messinger Carril
Summary: There are five mimicry rings among North American bumble bees and one mixed group. Describing these mimicry rings is essential for future research on imperfect mimicry, intermediate mimicry, and other insects that mimic bumble bees.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Joanna S. Brebner, James C. Makinson, Olivia K. Bates, Natacha Rossi, Ka S. Lim, Thibault Dubois, Tamara Gomez-Moracho, Mathieu Lihoreau, Lars Chittka, Joseph L. Woodgate
Summary: Research shows that bumble bees utilize ground level linear features for navigation in the absence of skyline cues, with individual bees modulating their use of these features strategically based on their goals and experience across different behavioral contexts. These findings have important implications for the placement of bee colonies in agriculture and conservation of floral resources.
Article
Entomology
Genevieve Pugesek, Carolyn N. Burtt, Elizabeth E. Crone
Summary: The commercial rearing of bumble bees has led to differences in foraging behavior and size compared to wild bumble bees. Wild bumble bees prefer to return to colonies with purer pollen loads and are more likely to bring back pollen compared to commercial counterparts. Additionally, commercial bumble bees are smaller in size than wild bumble bees.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Allison A. Camp, David M. Lehmann
Summary: This article examines the impact of neonicotinoids on bumble bee populations and highlights the urgent need for additional studies, especially those focusing on cellular and organ responses in bumble bees exposed to neonicotinoids. Through the AOP framework, existing literature on the adverse outcome pathways is summarized, emphasizing the importance of addressing data gaps in the bumble bee research community.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Tamsin Stewart, Nikhil Bolton-Patel, James E. Cresswell
Summary: The study suggests that in nectar-poor habitats, diverting bumble bee workers to nectar foraging may lead to incubator limitation, impacting colony fitness. The behavior of wild bumble bee colonies indicates that they respond to sugar supplementation as if incubator-limited.
ECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
C. M. McGrady, J. P. Strange, M. M. Lopez-Uribe, S. J. Fleischer
Summary: Using genetic methods and statistical inference, the study estimated the abundance of wild Bombus impatiens colonies providing foragers to 30 commercial pumpkin fields in Pennsylvania, USA. The results showed that the wild colony abundance per field ranged from 291 to 829 colonies, with stability across years, counties, and field sizes. The study documented a predictive relationship between wild colony abundance per hectare and visitation rate, providing valuable information for monitoring wild populations of B. impatiens in the face of environmental stressors.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Christopher A. Varnon, Noelle Vallely, Charlie Beheler, Claudia Coffin
Summary: Bumblebees, especially Bombus impatiens and B. terrestris, are increasingly used in behavioral ecology and comparative psychology research, yet little attention has been given to their innate antipredator responses. A primarily undescribed behavior, the disturbance leg-lift response (DLR), was investigated across two experiments, revealing that it may serve as a warning signal for an impending sting and can be altered through habituation learning.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Erick V. S. Motta, Nancy A. Moran
Summary: This study investigated the effects of herbicide on the gut microbiota and survival rates of the eastern bumble bee. The results showed that herbicide exposure had a temporary impact on the gut microbiota but did not cause long-lasting damage. It also suggested a potential negative effect on the survival rates of bumble bees at high concentrations.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Biological
Benjamin J. Abts, Aimee S. Dunlap
Summary: This study examines how bumble bees learn and remember social and floral information based on their reliability and value. The experiment finds that bumble bees are capable of learning both types of information, but retain socially reliable information for longer. The training treatments and retention intervals also influence the bees' choices.
LEARNING & BEHAVIOR
(2022)
Review
Ecology
Emily I. Jones, Michelle E. Afkhami, Erol Akcay, Judith L. Bronstein, Redouan Bshary, Megan E. Frederickson, Katy D. Heath, Jason D. Hoeksema, Joshua H. Ness, M. Sabrina Pankey, Stephanie S. Porter, Joel L. Sachs, Klara Scharnagl, Maren L. Friesen
Article
Ecology
Jessica L. Barker, Judith L. Bronstein, Maren L. Friesen, Emily I. Jones, H. Kern Reeve, Andrew G. Zink, Megan E. Frederickson
Article
Ecology
Emily I. Jones, Regis Ferriere, Judith L. Bronstein
AMERICAN NATURALIST
(2009)
Article
Ecology
Emily I. Jones, Richard Gomulkiewicz
AMERICAN NATURALIST
(2012)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Emily I. Jones, Judith L. Bronstein, Regis Ferriere
YEAR IN EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2012)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Chandra N. Jack, Julia G. Ridgeway, Natasha J. Mehdiabadi, Emily I. Jones, Tracy A. Edwards, David C. Queller, Joan E. Strassmann
BMC EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2008)
Article
Ecology
Emily I. Jones
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Michele C. Lanan, Anna Dornhaus, Emily I. Jones, Andrew Waser, Judith L. Bronstein
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Emily I. Jones, Scott L. Nuismer, Richard Gomulkiewicz
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2013)