Nectar concentrations of biogenic amines affect bumble bee behavior in a dose-dependent manner

While foraging, pollinators encounter a wide array of molecules, some of which may influence their internal states and behaviors. Among these, biogenic amines – nitrogenous compounds that serve as essential neuromodulators in animals – have only recently been detected in floral nectar. As a result, little is known about the effects of nectar-like concentrations (between 0.1 mM and 1 mM) of these compounds on pollinators. This dataset reports results gathered through various experimental tests on how two key biogenic amines, octopamine and its precursor tyramine, affect bumble bee behavior by examining: i) consumption and survival, ii) locomotion, and iii) gustatory responsiveness.