The effects of variable rates of temperature in the thermoregulation fanning behavior of Apis mellifera l

Social insects are known to be one of the most successful organisms on Earth due to their amazing capability of social communication. However, understanding of how social factors influence both individual and group behavior is still not entirely clear. To explore this, we study honeybee fanning behavior. Honeybees thermoregulate their colony at 36°C when brood is present. This is a critical task because if it gets hotter, the larvae can die. Our prior research shows that thermal threshold and fanning probability are modulated as group size increases. Other research shows bumble bees (Bombus terrestris), have a higher probability of fanning when there is a gradual increase in temperature rather than a rapid increase of temperature. Here, we explore whether rate of heating in different group sizes changes fanning behavior in honeybees. Understanding this will provide insight into how the synergy of honeybees contributes to the regulation of temperature fluctuation of their hive. This study hypothesis that groups are more efficient at cueing in on environmental temperature stressors within the hive.