Flight performance of bumble bees with wing wear

This two-part study addressed the foraging flight performance of bumble bees (Bombus spp.) burdened with artificially induced wing wear between fireweed flowers (Chameriion angustifolium). The first part of the study examiend the effects of wing wear and interflower distance on travel time. The second part of the study addressed the effect of mean wing clipping and wing asymmetry on flight biomechanics (flight distance, velocity, acceleration, and deceleration) and flight biomechanics (flight distance, velocity, acceleration, and deceleration) and flight path (displacement from a bee-line). Bees with wing wear flew faster between flowers spaced more sparsely, possibly compromising accuracy in choosing rewarding flowers. Flight biomechanics were relatively unchanged by wing wear. Bees with low wing loss and little asymmetry increased slightly in acceleration and deceleration. Bees with high mean wing loss and high asymmetry flew further and higher between flowers compared to control bees. When the high mean wing loss was symmetrical, bees flew as far and as high as control bees. The results of these studies suggest the resilience of bumble bees to induced wing wear, with little change in flight performance.

Authors

• Haas, Claudia A.
• University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science

• Dissertations, Academic
• Bumblebees -- Flight
• Insects -- Flight
• Bumblebees -- Wings

Identifier

hdl:10133/262

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:opus.uleth.ca:10133/262