Persistent and reticent foraging strategies: Energy optimization in honey bee (Apis mellifera) nectar foraging

Classical experiments on honey bee time-memory showed that foragers trained to collect food at a fixed time of day will return the following day with a remarkable degree of time-accuracy. We have found that not all the time-trained foragers visit the training station on an unrewarded test day immediately following the last day of time-training. Rather, there are both persistent bees (those reconnoitering the food source at the appropriate time) and another set of bees within the trained group -- reticent bees. Reticent bees do not reconnoiter the food source but nevertheless cluster on the dance floor with the persistent bees in anticipation of the training time. A reticent bee will resume foraging only after observing a recruitment dance for her source. In light of the ability of foragers to recruit hivemates to a productive food source, it is surprising that so many bees within a foraging group are persistent (40-90%, depending on the number of days of experience at the source). What is the benefit in sending so many foragers to investigate a source that may or may not still be productive when just a few have the ability to reactivate the entire group? Agent-based modeling of one foraging group reveals that employing 90% persistent foragers is energetically optimal.