Circadian rhythm of locomotor activity in the Japanese honeybee, Apis cerana japonica

Abstract

Abstract To reveal circadian characteristics and entrainment mechanisms in the Japanese honeybee Apis cerana japonica, the locomotor‐activity rhythm of foragers is investigated under programmed light and temperature conditions. After entrainment to an LD 12 : 12 h photoperiodic regime, free‐running rhythms are released in constant dark (DD) or light (LL) conditions with different free‐running periods. Under the LD 12 : 12 h regime, activity offset occurs approximately 0.4 h after lights‐off transition, assigned to circadian time (Ct) 12.4 h. The phase of activity onset, peak and offset, and activity duration depends on the photoperiodic regimes. The circadian rhythm can be entrained to a 24‐h period by exposure to submultiple cycles of LD 6 : 6 h, as if the locomotive rhythm is entrained to LD 18 : 6 h. Phase shifts of delay and advance are observed when perturbing single light pulses are presented during free‐running under DD conditions. Temperature compensation of the free‐running period is demonstrated under DD and LL conditions. Steady‐state entrainment of the locomotor rhythm is achieved with square‐wave temperature cycles of 10 °C amplitude, but a 5 °C amplitude fails to entrain.