Juergen Tautz

University of Wuerzburg | JMU · BEEgroup

Die Wunderwelt der Honigbiene - Wissen kurz und bündigWer hat im Bienenvolk das Sagen? Wie kommunizieren Bienen untereinander? Und warum wird ein Volk im Ganzen als ein Bien bezeichnet? Womit riechen Bienen eigentlich? Wieso sterben Drohnen beim Fortpflanzungsakt? Und warum kündigt die neue Königin ihr Schlüpfen mit einem lauten Ton an? Die Antwo...

Tausende von Jahren reicht die gemeinsame Geschichte von Mensch und Honigbiene in Europa zurück. Das früheste Zeugnis dieser Geschichte ist eine 6000 bis 12.000 Jahre alte Felszeichnung in einem Höhlensystem nahe Valencia, den Cuevas de la Araña: Ein Honigjäger — oder eine Honigjägerin — greift mit einer Hand in ein Bienennest in einer Baumhöhle, w...

The Cape bee is endemic to the winter rainfall region of South Africa where fires are an integral part of the ecology of the fynbos (heathland) vegetation. Of the 37 wild nests in pristine Peninsula Sandstone Fynbos in the Cape Point section of Table Mountain National Park that have been analyzed so far, only 22 could be accessed sufficiently to de...

Der Einsatz von Rauch ermöglicht dem Imker, an einem Bienenvolk zu arbeiten, ohne damit rechnen zu müssen, dass die Bienen den Eindringling angreifen. Was steckt biologisch hinter dem besonderen Verhalten der Honigbienen, wenn sie Rauch wahrnehmen?

Wasps of the genus Polistes build combs without any cover and hence are insufficiently protected against temperature fluctuations. Due to this fact, different types of thermoregulation of Polistes dominula nests were investigated using the modern method of thermography. The study of active mechanisms for nest thermoregulation revealed no brood incu...

The development of insecticides requires valid risk assessment procedures to avoid causing harm to beneficial insects and especially to pollinators such as the honeybee Apis mellifera. In addition to testing according to current guidelines designed to detect bee mortality, tests are needed to determine possible sublethal effects interfering with th...

We have studied the responses of honey bees at different life stages (Apis mellifera) to controlled infection with acute bee paralysis virus and have identified the haemolymph of infected larvae and adult worker bees as the compartment where massive propagation of ABPV occurs. Insects respond with a broad spectrum of induced innate immune reactions...

In North America, Polistes dominula causes a stir because it spreads very fast in this region upon its recent introduction. Many different explanations are presented in the literature why P. dominula is such a good invader. In Europe, the invasion of this species into northern regions is also on the rise. Since little is known about the nesting beh...

Paper wasps, like Polistes dominula, are considered as primitively eusocial. Hence, they are often used as model species for studies about the evolution of eusociality and dominance hierarchies. However, our knowledge about basic physiological processes in these wasps remains limited. In particular, the thermoregulation of individual wasps in their...

Bees fascinate almost everyone not just scientists but school children and the general public as well. This project builds on that fascination and seeks to inform and develop that curiosity into real research as well as reaching out across frontiers.

Incoming and outgoing rates of honeybees (Apis mellifera) were monitored from an observation hive daily over three, six-month periods in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Sensors at the hive entrance measured differences between the numbers of outgoing versus returning bees on a per minute basis. Disturbances were also monitored in (A) Earth’s magnetosphere and...

Patterns of behavior within societies have long been visualized and interpreted using maps. Mapping the occurrence of sleep across individuals within a society could offer clues as to functional aspects of sleep. In spite of this, a detailed spatial analysis of sleep has never been conducted on an invertebrate society. We introduce the concept of m...

Bienen sind im Vergleich zu Hunden und Katzen keine Streicheltiere. Deshalb ist für Kinder der Zugang zu dieser Tierwelt im Allgemeinen etwas schwieriger. Umso wichtiger ist es, gute Möglichkeiten zu finden, wie sich Schülerinnen und Schüler sinnvoll mit dem faszinierenden Volk der Bienen beschäftigen können. Im folgenden Beitrag soll aufgezeigt we...

Mathematik als Sprache der Naturwissenschaften gilt in der Bevölkerung oftmals als abstrakt und trocken, durchdringt aber doch so viele Bereiche unseres Alltags. Moderne Medien, die Unterhaltungselektronik, Medizin & Biologie – um nur einige zu nennen – sind Beispiele, in denen die Mathematik zumeist unerkannt bleibt, obwohl sie eine Schlüsselstell...

The development of all honey bee castes proceeds through three different life stages all of which encounter microbial infections to a various extent. We have examined the immune strength of honey bees across all developmental stages with emphasis on the temporal expression of cellular and humoral immune responses upon artificial challenge with viab...

AbstractÜber das Internet‐Projekt HOBOS können Schülerinnen und Schüler das drittwichtigste Nutztier des Menschen nach Rind und Schwein online kennenlernen. Sie können sehen und messen, was gerade live im Stock und außerhalb vor sich geht und eigenständig auf einfache, aber auch auf hochkomplexe Prozesse rund um den Bienenstaat schließen.

Some nectars, such of that of the thunder god vine, Tripterygium hypoglaucum, contain alkaloids that are mildly toxic to honeybees, Apis spp. Given a choice, foragers prefer nontoxic honey to that of T. hypoglaucum, but only if there are no alternative nectar sources. Here we show that foragers of the Asian hive bee collecting T. hypoglaucum honey...

Drones are haploid male individuals whose major social function in honey bee colonies is to produce sperm and mate with a queen. In spite of their limited tasks, the vitality of drones is of utmost importance for the next generation. The immune competence of drones - as compared to worker bees - is largely unexplored. Hence, we studied humoral and...

We have studied the responses of honey bees at different life stages (Apis mellifera) to controlled infection with acute bee paralysis virus and have identified the haemolymph of infected larvae and adult worker bees as the compartment where massive propagation of ABPV occurs. Insects respond with a broad spectrum of induced innate immune reactions...

The development of insecticides requires valid risk assessment procedures to avoid causing harm to beneficial insects and especially to pollinators such as the honeybee Apis mellifera. In addition to testing according to current guidelines designed to detect bee mortality, tests are needed to determine possible sublethal effects interfering with th...

Schematic view of the bee-tunnel cross-section. (A) Cross section of the tunnel designed to ensure passages of the bees with dorsal-surface facing upward. The highest part allows passage of the bee's body, while the side extensions give space to the bee's legs in sideward position. Front view. (B) Top view of the two parallel tunnels. (TIF)

1st symptom observed after administration of doses ≥1 ng clothianidin. Bee moving around the feeder compartment with an awkwardly arched abdomen. (AVI)

Results of pre-test conducted with a handheld USB-Pen to detect bees at the feeder site. (A) The number of visits at the feeder site was significantly reduced, (B) the median total duration for a single foraging trip and the first time interval spent inside the hive were significantly prolonged compared to the control (n = 10) for bees treated with...

1st symptom observed after administration of doses ≥3 ng imidacloprid. Bee showing reduced mobility at the entrance of the feeder compartment. (AVI)

2nd symptom observed after administration of doses ≥3 ng imidacloprid. A near-to-motionless bee sitting on the feeder with occasional trembling and cleaning movements. (AVI)

2nd symptom observed after administration of doses ≥1 ng clothianidin. Bee lying on its back with paddling movements unable to return to upright position. (AVI)

Some nectars, such of that of the thunder god vine, Tripterygium hypoglaucum, contain alkaloids that are mildly toxic to honeybees, Apis spp. Given a choice, foragers prefer nontoxic honey to that of T. hypoglaucum, but only if there are no alternative nectar sources. Here we show that foragers of the Asian hive bee collecting T. hypoglaucum honey...

In modern managed agro-ecosystems, the supply of adequate food from blooming crops is limited to brief periods. During periods of pollen deficiencies, bees are forced to forage on alternative crops, such as maize. However, pollen of maize is believed to be a minor food source for bees as it is thought to be lacking in proteins and essential amino a...

Honeybee populations are severely threatened by parasites and diseases. Recent outbreaks of Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) has caused loss of more than 35% of bee colonies in the USA, and this is thought to at least in part be due to parasites and/or disease. Interestingly, the honeybee possesses of a limited set of immune genes compared to other i...

Objective: Cytokines play an important role in immune regulation and fetal lung development. The systemic inflammatory response in newborns with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) has not been characterized so far. We compared various concentrations of cytokines in serum from newborns with CDH and in healthy term neonates. We analyzed cytokine p...

Honeybee foragers frequently fly several kilometres to and from vital resources, and communicate those locations to their nest mates by a symbolic dance language. Research has shown that they achieve this feat by memorizing landmarks and the skyline panorama, using the sun and polarized skylight as compasses and by integrating their outbound flight...

This chapter discusses in detail individual honeybees fending off an enemy and the effects that can be rendered when whole colony defence is a coordinated, social effort. Enemies extend from viruses to bears. Whatever the predator, the nesting styles and nests of the bees afford a first line of defence. These are supplemented by various weapons, in...

von Frisch discovered a particularly exciting facet of honeybee biology: communication by the dance language. Only later, when Lindauer entered the scene, did studies on Asian honeybees gain a footing. Since then, great strides have been made with respect to foraging range vs. the dance tempo that shows some of the unique properties of Asian bees....

Ants are considered to be classical nectar thieves. In recent years, however, limited evidence has suggested that flower-visiting ants can contribute to pollination. In this chapter, we review why pollination by ants is rare and under what circumstances it may occur. Furthermore, we elaborate on the role of floral scents for foraging ants.

Behavioural research on honeybees has shown that bees are not the simple, hardwired creatures they were once believed to be. Bees display perceptual and ‘cognitive’ abilities that are rich, complex and flexible. In this chapter, we begin a review of these abilities with a brief introduction of the bee’s sensory equipment. Next, we describe several...

Das erreichte Ziel ist die Entwicklung eines Fertigungsverfahrens zur Realisierung bionischer Schwingungserregersysteme auf der Basis eines in der Natur auftretenden Prinzips, das in der Adaptronik nutzbaren Aktuatoren ermöglicht, Kräfte rückwirkungsarm und effizient in eine Struktur einzuleiten. Derartige multifunktionale Schwingungserregersysteme...

In newborns congenital heart defects can take an asymptomatic course, causing a diagnostic gap in the routine examination. Therefore pulsoxymetric screening is under discussion, as it could close this diagnostic gap. Non-invasive postductal peripheral oxygen saturation assessment was carried out in 3 364 term neonates, 6-36 h of age, in 2008. In as...

Behavioural research on honeybees has shown that bees are not the simple, hardwired creatures they were once believed to be. Bees display perceptual and ‘cognitive’ abilities that are rich, complex and flexible. In this chapter, we begin a review of these abilities with a brief introduction of the bee’s sensory equipment. Next, we describe several...

Although the numerical abilities of many vertebrate species have been investigated in the scientific literature, there are few convincing accounts of invertebrate numerical competence. Honeybees, Apis mellifera, by virtue of their other impressive cognitive feats, are a prime candidate for investigations of this nature. We therefore used the well-e...

summarises the details of the student t tests for Figures 2–5 and Figure S1. Test Type 1 was to check whether the bees made the decisions according to the sample pattern, namely whether their performance was significantly different from random choice; Test Type 2 checked whether the bees reversed their preference after the sample was changed listed...

A & B. Individual performance records of three bees (from a group of about twenty) trained in an experiment performed in December 2006. The first choice of each bee within a ten-minute testing block is shown (+ correct choice, − incorrect choice). A blank cell indicates that the bee did not visit the apparatus during that block. These bees were cho...

All sample and choice patterns used in the learning tests and various transfer tests. Each group of bees was tested on a large number of patterns, both in the orientation shown above, as well as rotated 180. (2.35 MB TIF)

Individual performance records of five bees (from a group of twenty) trained in an experiment performed in April 2007. The notations used here are same as in Table S1. (0.35 MB PDF)

In recent years, it has become evident that indirect interactions between members of food webs can significantly influence ecosystem functions. For example, predators affect prey populations through either consumption (density-mediated interactions) or, equally important, by changing prey behavior or phenotype (trait-mediated interactions). Noncons...

Condizioni evolutive favorevoli hanno portato alla comparsa delle api.

I mammiferi devono la loro dominanza a caratteristiche presenti anche nel superorganismo costituito dalla colonia di api.

Le api mellifere non rappresentano soltanto un affascinante modello di un successo evolutivo. Il loro contributo all’impollinazione le rende anche di notevole importanza economica per l’uomo.

Le proprietá del favo sono parte integrante del superorganismo e contribuiscono a definire la sociofisiologia della colonia d’api.

La colonia di api dá vita a un superorganismo che é qualcosa in piú della semplice somma delle sue parti. Possiede infatti proprietá che i singoli componenti non possiedono. Molte caratteristiche delle api sono determinate e influenzate da quelle della colonia nel suo complesso e trovano giustificazione nella sua sociofisiologia.

Le api sono un gruppo animale relativamente povero in termini di diversitá di specie, ma esercitano una vasta influenza sul biotopo.

Per vivere, le api traggono energia e materia dall’ambiente e li riorganizzano in maniera da garantire alle colonie le condizioni migliori per propagarsi. Questa é un’osservazione sul comportamento delle apiessenziale per comprendere il successo e le eccezionali prestazioni di questa specie.

L’interesse del genere umano nei confronti delle api risale a tempi antichi: i nostri antenati erano interessati soprattutto al miele e alla cera prodotti da questi insetti. In tempi moderni, l’interesse per le api ha visto una vera e propria rifioritura per diversi motivi. Sembra che Albert Einstein (1879–1955) abbia detto: “Se scomparissero le ap...

Molti aspetti della vita sessuale delle api rimangono ancora un mistero.

Il mondo percepito alla vista e all’olfatto delle api, il loro orientamento nello spazio e gran parte del loro sistema di comunicazione si basano sulla relazione con le angiosperme.

Le larve delle api mellifere vengono nutrite con ció che viene prodotto da speciali ghiandole degli individui adulti, la cui funzione é paragonabile a quella del latte materno nei mammiferi.

La temperatura del nido di covata é un fattore di controllo che serve alle api per modulare le caratteristiche delle future sorelle.

Gli stretti legami familiari nell’alveare sono l’esito, e non il presupposto, della vita in colonia.

We have employed the proteomic approach in combination with mass spectrometry to study the immune response of honey bee workers at different developmental stages. Analysis of the hemolymph proteins of noninfected, mock-infected and immune-challenged individuals by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed differences in the protein profiles. We pre...

Honeybees actively regulate their brood temperature by heating between 33 and 36 degrees C if ambient temperatures are lower. Heat is generated by vibrating the flight muscles. Heating rapidly depletes the worker's internal energy; therefore heating performance is limited by the honey that is ingested before the heating process. Stored honey is the...

A summary of statistical significant tests to compare waggle duration. (0.05 MB DOC)

Apis cerana cerana (Acc) bees (dark abdomens) following the dance of a marked and an unmarked Apis mellifera ligustica (Aml) forager (lighter abdomens) in the mixed-species colony. Both dancers had been trained to an artificial feeder 200 m away from the hive. (9.11 MB MPG)

Trophallaxis between a marked Acc worker (right) and an unmarked Aml worker (left). (5.77 MB MPG)

An Acc queen lays an egg while being attended to by lighter-coloured Aml workers. (9.96 MB MPG)

Aml and Acc bees following the dance of a marked Acc forager in the mixed-species colony. Like the bees in video S1, this dancer had also been trained to the same 200 m position. (9.02 MB MPG)