Development of an environmental sampling unit utilizing small groups of honey bees Apis mellifera and the influence of pheromones on foraging behavior

The goals of this study were to determine the minimal number of bees that could be used to sample a given area and the effects of pheromones on the stability and foraging behavior of these small units that we called environmental sampling units or ESUs. The importance of colony-level factors in coordinating worker foraging patterns can best be appreciated by examining the consumption of nectar and pollen by a single colony, and the amount of work required to collect those foods (Winston 1987, p177). Thus, in this study, measurements will be gathered to assess foraging rates and pollen and nectar collection as a reflection of the workload of each small group of honey bees (ESU).

In conclusion, the goal of this study is two-fold. The primary objective is to evaluate the role of queen and brood pheromones in stimulating a population of honeybees to behave as a collective functioning colony, as determined by foraging rate and stored materials. The secondary objective is to determine the smallest number of bees and resources needed for the bees to act as a functional colony and collect pollen in any given environment.