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Fig. 1. Wild queens learned an olfactory association better than workers.
Fig. 1. Wild queens learned an olfactory association better than workers.
Fig. 2. Queens in the lab were more sensitive to less concentrated scents compared to workers.
Fig. 2. Queens in the lab were more sensitive to less concentrated scents compared to workers.
Cognition
Cognition
Comparing olfactory learning and sensitivity in bumblebee queens and workers
Comparing olfactory learning and sensitivity in bumblebee queens and workers
Bumblebees are a well-studied model for cognition, but most work has been limited to foraging workers. Queens also forage, and previous work from the Muth Lab shows that they learn color associations better than workers. Here we found that queens learned scent associations better than workers (Fig. 1), and in some cases were more sensitive to odors (Fig. 2). These differences suggest that queens’ unique sensory and learning abilities may help them succeed in the challenging task of founding new colonies.
Bumblebees are a well-studied model for cognition, but most work has been limited to foraging workers. Queens also forage, and previous work from the Muth Lab shows that they learn color associations better than workers. Here we found that queens learned scent associations better than workers (Fig. 1), and in some cases were more sensitive to odors (Fig. 2). These differences suggest that queens’ unique sensory and learning abilities may help them succeed in the challenging task of founding new colonies.
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