EntomologistBugBug BUMBLEBEEKARLSWEAT VON FRISCH BEE MIMIC ofof theof the the (1886 - 1982)(LaphriaSubject: flavicollis)Honey bees Month Field:(Agapostemon Ethology Nationality: spp.) Austrian MonthMonth

The round dance (left) indicates resources that are a short distance from the hive, while the waggle dance (right) communicates longer distances. Credit: Oliver Feldwick

Karl von Frisch is most famous for his discovery and interpretation of the honey bee dance language, for which he and his colleagues were awarded the Nobel Prize in 1973. His experiments relied on training paint-marked bees to feeders at known locations relative to their hive. Then, through careful observation, von Frisch discovered that honey bees per- form a ‘waggle dance’ to communicate the distance and direction of food resources to other Agapostemon is a widespread preference. Like other members of cases, multiple females may share foragers. von Frisch is less well known for many other important contributions that he made Atgenus first of bees glance, in North youAmerica, may flavicollisHalictidae, ,they is commonly are short-tongued found aand single beetles. nest entrance, Once but they each have towithbelieve the 14 studyknown this ofspeciesis honeya bumblebee. across bees, the which acrossand included have the difficulty eastern investigations Unitedextracting States. nectarinto honeyindividualcollected bee builds their vision and prey, andprovisions they the return her studyUnitedHowever, ofStates a microsporidianit’s and shortCanada. straight Most parasite Theyfrom of deep breedhoney flowers. in bee decaying Agapostemon colonies logs called in toownNosema their brood perchapis cells.. Being and ofinject Jewish the descent,speciesantennae, have von along-bearded metallic Frisch green struggled head face, to deciduous canperform often be his forests, observed research and foraging asunder adults, the insectNazi regime with a digestiveduring World enzyme Warand thorax II.tapering However, with a body black due and give to yellow the clues economic arethroughout often importance seen the summer resting of and cropon fall sunlit onpollination that dissolves inBy Rachelmaintaining its McLaughlin internal the tissues. Ger- mantostriped its food abdomen,true supply, identity: however (which a some robber was instrumental vegetation.plants in the family towards Asteraceae, fueling such the warThe effort),robber flyhe thenwas allowed sucks theto continuespeciesfly. Robber may his be entirelyresearchflies ingreen. theon Their honeygenus bees.as the sunflower in the above image. fluid out, and it is ready to hunt brightLaphria metallic are common green coloration mimics of Robber flies are predatory again. References:givesbumblebees. rise to their Theycommon are name: usually the insectsAgapostemon that can hunt be foundby perching nesting • Munz, Tania. 2016. The Dancing Bees: Karl von Frisch and the Discovery of the Honeybee Language. Uni- metallic green bees. in the ground across a variety of soil quiteversity hairy of Chicago with Press,black Chicago, and ILand waiting for insects to pass yellow bodies. The bumblebee by.types, They from prey very uponsandy to insects thick clay. like • Winston, M. 2016. Ethology: Intrepid translator of the hive. Nature 533:32-33By Rachel McLaughlin • Allmimic AgapostemonThis factsheetpictured are was here,generalist produced Laphria by NatalieotherMost Boyle,species robber Penn are flies, solitary, State bees, Insecthowever wasps,Biodiversity Center program coordinator foragers, meaning they have no floral some will nest communally. In these FebruaryApril 20212021

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