Home
Honeybees decode the waggle dance by applying simple maths
The London News.Net
Monday 6th October, 2008 (ANI)
London, Oct 6 : Honeybees do a waggle dance to guide other hive-mates towards nectar-rich flowers, and scientists have now revealed that the bees in the hive actually apply maths to deduce the direction, according to a new study.
In an experiment, David Tanner and Kirk Visscher from the University of California, Riverside, have shown that bees trained to visit artificial sugar-traps flew off in a direction that more closely matched the mean angle of several waggles, instead of flying on the angle of any one waggle
"Bees apparently keep a mental log of the directions indicated in the dance. I find it remarkable that, with a relatively simple brain, they can do something so mathematically complex," New Scientist magazine quoted Tanner as saying.
According to Tom Seeley at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, who has studied several aspects of honeybee societies, the study has shown convincing results.
But, he added, it's not just the waggle that the honeybees use for deciding their flight direction.
He suggested that they might also take their cue from bees returning to the hive, "for example by orienting to the flights of these bees as they flew to or from the feeder".
 Email this story to a friend
Have your say on this story
|
 |
 |
- Pepe Jeans London sets trend this winter
Mumbai, Nov 21 (ANI/Business Wire India): Pepe Jeans London, a brand synonymous with chic street fashion and casual cool, has announced the launch of its winter wear 2008 collection called- Trend. [read story]
- D/L could have been avoided in Kanpur ODI: Pietersen
London, Nov 21(IANS) England skipper Kevin Pietersen feels that a flexible approach to the third One-Day International could have avoided the match to decided on the Duckworth-Lewis system (D/L). [read story]
- World campaign to save Gulf of Mannar gathers momentum
London, Nov.21 : Ecologists, academics, scientists and religious leaders from around the world will gather in London next week. Their aim will be to prevent the destruction of the Gulf of Mannar, one of the last remaining intact ecosystems on earth and home to the famous Ram Sethu or Adam's Bridge, a site sacred to one billion Hindus worldwide. [read story]
- Jolie's twins' pic deal with People magazine 'guaranteed positive coverage'
London, Nov 21 : When Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt negotiated with People magazine for photos of their newborn twins, the couple was seeking more than the estimated 14 million pounds they received from the deal, according to reports. [read story]
- 'Citizen Kane' tops French magazine's 'Best 100 Movies' list
London, Nov 21 : 'Citizen Kane', a 1941 American dramatic film and the first feature film directed by Orson Welles, has topped Cahiers du Cinema magazine's list of 'The Best 100 Movies'. [read story]
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
