The honey bee foraging behavior syndrome: quantifying the response threshold model of division of labor

Abstract

This review focuses on how honey bee responsiveness to sucrose is related to a correlated suite of foraging traits, called the honey bee foraging behavior syndrome. Behavior syndromes are reminiscent of human personalities. In general, the honey bee foraging syndrome is characterized as bees with low sucrose response thresholds begin foraging at younger ages than bees with high sucrose response thresholds. Sucrose response threshold in young pre-foraging aged bees predicts forage choice 2 to 3 weeks later. The relationship is such that bees with low sucrose response thresholds forage for resources with no or low sugar rewards such as water and pollen. Bees with higher sucrose response thresholds forage for nectar and return with nectar containing sugar concentrations that are positively correlated with individual sucrose response threshold. The honey bee provides one of the best studied cases of a natural behavioral syndrome from genes to behavior, having great potential for understanding social evolution, and the organization of a complex system.