Stingless bee feeding sounds

It turns out that stingless bees can produce sounds while collecting a nectar-type reward. Here we see the stingless bee, Melipona panamica collecting a rich sucrose solution from an artificial feeder while a microphone (white tube) records the different sounds made by the forager. It turns out that bees produce more of these sounds when the temperature decreases. The sounds are produced by bees buzzing their flight muscles, which need to achieve a certain minimum temperature for efficient flight. Thus, the sounds may be a byproduct of this muscle warming. (Please note that species and genus names would be italicized if this were possible.)

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• FeedersoundsMpanamica

[teachingbee]

These bees are in Panama. The experiments were filmed on Barro Colorado Island in the Panama Canal.

[Scythemantis]

@robomantis there are many stingless bees native to the US. Actually, most bee species lack stings :)

[robomantis]

I see.

[robomantis]

How do you have stingless bees in the US? Won't the cold kill them?