LEARNING OF PROBOSCIS EXTENSION IN HARNESSED AFRICANIZED HONEY BEE DRONES (Apis mellifera L.)

Studies on the olfactive learning in honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) are predominantly performed with worker bees. In this study, we used the classical conditioning of proboscis extension (PER) to evaluate the effectiveness of 5 scents as conditioned stimuli (CS). Ten groups of 20 drones (A. mellifera L.) each were used. The conditioned stimuli were the odors of Citral, Hexanal, Geraniol, beeswax (comb), and beeswax (foundation sheet). In addition to the acquisition of learning, we measured the persistence of conditioning when the unconditioned stimulus was no longer presented (i.e.,extinction). The intertrial interval, the CS duration and US duration were 10 min, 2 sec, and 3 sec, respectively. The drones were able to demonstrate conditioning and storage of information. Citral, Hexanal, and beeswax (comb) were the most efficient stimuli in classical conditioning with drones.

针对西方蜜蜂（Apis mellifera L.）的嗅觉学习研究，既往多以工蜂作为实验对象。本研究采用伸吻反射经典条件化（Proboscis Extension Reflex，PER）范式，评估5种气味作为条件刺激（Conditioned Stimulus，CS）的应用效果。实验共设置10组，每组使用20只西方蜜蜂雄蜂（A. mellifera L.）。本次实验的条件刺激分别为柠檬醛、己醛、香叶醇、巢脾蜂蜡以及巢础蜂蜡的气味。除检测学习获得过程外，本研究还测定了不再呈现无条件刺激（Unconditioned Stimulus，US）时，条件化反应的持续性（即消退过程）。实验的组间间隔、条件刺激时长以及无条件刺激时长分别为10分钟、2秒与3秒。结果显示，雄蜂能够完成条件化反应并实现信息存储。其中，柠檬醛、己醛与巢脾蜂蜡是适配雄蜂经典条件化实验的最优刺激物。