Intraspecific Aggression in Giant Honey Bees (Apis dorsata)

Abstract

We investigated intraspecific aggression in experimental nests (expN1, expN2) of the giant honey bee Apis dorsata in Chitwan (Nepal), focusing on interactions between surface bees and two other groups of bees approaching the nest: (1) homing “nestmate” foragers landing on the bee curtain remained unmolested by guards; and (2) supposed “non-nestmate” bees, which were identified by their erratic flight patterns in front of the nest, such as hovering or sideways scanning and splaying their legs from their body, and were promptly attacked by the surface bees after landing. These supposed non-nestmate bees only occurred immediately before and after migration swarms, which had arrived in close vicinity (and were most likely scouting for a nesting site). In total, 231 of the “nestmate” foragers (fb) and 102 approaches of such purported “non-nestmate” scouts (sc) were analysed (total observation time expN1: 5.43 min) regarding the evocation of shimmering waves (sh). During their landing the “nestmate” foragers provoked less shimmering waves (relnsh[fb] = 23/231 = 0.0996, relnsh[sc] = 75/102 = 0.7353; p <0.001, χ2-test) with shorter duration (Dsh[fb] = 197 ± 17 ms, Dsh[sc] = 488 ± 16 ms; p <0.001; t-test) than “non-nestmates”. Moreover, after having landed on the nest surface, the “non-nestmates” were attacked by the surface bees (expN1, expN2: observation time >18 min) quite similarly to the defensive response against predatory wasps. Hence, the surface members of settled colonies respond differently to individual giant honey bees approaching the nest, depending on whether erratic flight patterns are displayed or not.

The distribution and nest-site preference of Apis dorsata binghami at Maros Forest, South Sulawesi, Indonesia

“…In contrast, Starr et al (1987) reported that A. d. dorsata tend to built a nest in an open air location and clean by liane plants. Weihmann et al (2014) also reported that A. d. dorsata tends to built nests on open so that the circumstances are more easily seen by predators, such as wasp Polistes olivaceus. The weaker colony defense caused the higher risk of larvae and colonies attacked by disease.…”

“…Kahono et al (1999) also reported that nests of A. dorsata were found in a height less than 10 meter from ground surface over a period of two years. While, Weihmann et al (2014) reported that A. dorsata prefer high trees to make their nests. Previous studies reported that A. dorsata tend to prefer places with a height of more than 10 meters to built nests (Starr et al 1987;Kahono et al 1999;Hadisoesilo 2001).…”

Honey robbing: could human changes to the environment transform a rare foraging tactic into a maladaptive behavior?

“…A. dorsata are relatively docile towards conspecifics, but they do become more defensive towards non-nestmates during the migratory season when a new nest has settled in their vicinity. Actual robbing is still rarely observed [42]. Interestingly, managed A. mellifera colonies kept at a similar density show a drift rate that is 35-fold higher.…”

Increased complexity of worker CHC profiles in Apis dorsata correlates with nesting ecology

“…However, a very low frequency of drifted workers (0–6.25%) has been reported in aggregations [ 12 , 13 ] suggesting an elaborate nestmate recognition system. Initially colonies respond to visual cues like irregular flight maneuvers of non-nestmates with shimmering behavior [ 14 ], whereas in close-range interactions after landing on the curtain olfactory cues like CHC profile differences are more likely used to identify the non-nestmate.…”