Abstract
This paper reviews our understanding of the mechanisms that enable adult worker honey bees to show plasticity in age polyethism in response to changing environmental conditions. There are genotypic differences in rate of behavioral development, which predispose individu- als to respond to changing conditions in predictable ways. For example, genotypes that have relatively fast rates of behavioral development under more typical conditions are more inclined to show precocious foraging in the absence of foragers of normal age. Juvenile hormone influences rate of behavioral development, and environmentally induced changes in JH titers are thought to underlie changes in age polyethism. Results of recent experiments indicate that changes in the age at onset of foraging caused by changes in colony age demography are at least partially a conse- quence of social interactions in which older bees inhibit the rate of behavioral development of younger bees. Chemical signals are suspected to feature prominently in these interactions, and pre- liminary evidence supporting this notion is presented. © Inra/DIB/AGIB/Elsevier, Paris
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
