Organization enhances collective vigilance in the hovering guards of Tetragonisca angustula bees

Kyle Shackleton, Denise A Alves and Francis L W Ratnieks

Behavioral Ecology, 2018, vol. 29, issue 5, 1105-1112

Abstract: Many animals display vigilance behaviors in order to detect predators. We found that the guards of a social bee coordinate their vigilance, which increases nest defense. Guards hover and distribute themselves evenly around the nest entrance. This increases the group’s field of view and ability to detect predators. We discuss how and why this organized pattern might arise.

Keywords: coordinated vigilance; defense; self-organization; nest; social insect; stingless bee (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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