Comparing the appetitive learning performance of six European honeybee subspecies in a common apiary

Raw data on gustatory response scores and learning performance of individual worker bees belonging to one of six subspecies of the Western honeybee (A. mellifera). All study colonies were kept together in a common apiary to ensure a uniform environment. Individual bees were tested in standardized protocols for classical olfactory learning and gustatory responsiveness.

Methods
Worker offspring from the different subspecies were compared in classical olfactory learning performance using the proboscis extension response. Prior to conditioning, individual sucrose responsiveness was measured to investigate whether possible differences in learning performances were due to differential responsiveness to the sugar water reward.