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Journal of Experimental Biology, Vol 204, Issue 3 559-564, Copyright © 2001 by Company of Biologists

JOURNAL ARTICLES

Behavioural assessment of visual acuity in bumblebees (Bombus impatiens)

T Macuda, R Gegear, T Laverty and B Timney
Department of Psychology and Department of Zoology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5C2. timney@julian.uwo.ca

The present study used previously developed techniques to measure resolution acuity in bumblebees (Bombus impatiens). Bees were required to discriminate between horizontal and vertical gratings in a Y-maze apparatus. The gratings had a mean luminance of 9 cd m(-)(2) and a Michelson contrast of 84 %. For different bees, either the horizontal or vertical grating was rewarded. Rewarded gratings were associated with a sucrose and water solution (30 % sucrose by volume) and unrewarded gratings with plain water. Acuity estimates were established at several different viewing distances over several sessions using a method of constant stimuli. Visual acuity functions were generated from the performance data, and acuity thresholds were interpolated at a performance level of 65 % correct. When corrected for viewing distance, best angular acuity obtained for horizontal and vertical gratings was 0.35 and 0.36 cycles degree(-)(1), respectively. These results are compared with those of the honeybee and discussed in the context of the bumblebee's foraging behaviour.


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© The Company of Biologists Ltd 2001