Honey bees navigate according to a map-like spatial memory

TLDR

Honey bees forage at a feeder or are recruited by waggle dance signals indicating the feeder location. The study reports complete flight paths of displaced bees using harmonic radar. Flights were recorded after bees were captured at the hive or feeder and released at an unexpected site. The recorded paths reveal three behavioral phases—initial straight flights, slow search flights, and rapid homing flights from many locations beyond visual range—meeting two criteria of map‑like memory and indicating a rich spatial navigation system.

Abstract

By using harmonic radar, we report the complete flight paths of displaced bees. Test bees forage at a feeder or are recruited by a waggle dance indicating the feeder. The flights are recorded after the bees are captured when leaving the hive or the feeder and are released at an unexpected release site. A sequence of behavioral routines become apparent: ( i ) initial straight flights in which they fly the course that they were on when captured (foraging bees) or that they learned during dance communication (recruited bees); ( ii ) slow search flights with frequent changes of direction in which they attempt to “get their bearings”; and ( iii ) straight and rapid flights directed either to the hive or first to the feeding station and then to the hive. These straight homing flights start at locations all around the hive and at distances far out of the visual catchment area around the hive or the feeding station. Two essential criteria of a map-like spatial memory are met by these results: bees can set course at any arbitrary location in their familiar area, and they can choose between at least two goals. This finding suggests a rich, map-like organization of spatial memory in navigating honey bees.