The Effects of Artificial Wing Wear on the Flight Capacity of the Honey Bee Apis Mellifera

Author

Jason T. Vance
Stephen P. Roberts, Missouri University of Science and TechnologyFollow

Abstract

The Wings of Bees and Other Insects Accumulate Permanent Wear, Which Increases the Rate of Mortality and Impacts Foraging Behavior, Presumably Due to Effects on Flight Performance. in This Study, We Investigated How Experimental Wing Wear Affects Flight Performance in Honey Bees. Variable Density Gases and High-Speed Videography Were Used to Determine the Maximum Hovering Flight Capacity and Wing Kinematics of Bees from Three Treatment Groups: No Wing Wear, Symmetric and Asymmetric Wing Wear. Wing Wear Was Simulated by Clipping the Distal-Trailing Edge of One or Both of the Wings. Across All Bees from Treatment Groups Combined, Wingbeat Frequency Was Inversely Related to Wing Area. during Hovering in Air, Bees with Symmetric and Asymmetric Wing Wear Responded Kinematically So as to Produce Wingtip Velocities Similar to Those Bees with No Wing Wear. However, Maximal Hovering Flight Capacity (Revealed during Flight in Hypodense Gases) Decreased in Direct Proportion to Wing Area and Inversely to Wing Asymmetry. Bees with Reduced Wing Area and High Asymmetry Produced Lower Maximum Wingtip Velocity Than Bees with Intact or Symmetric Wings, Which Caused a Greater Impairment in Maximal Flight Capacity. These Results Demonstrate that the Magnitude and Type of Wing Wear Affects Maximal Aerodynamic Power Production And, Likely, the Control of Hovering Flight. Wing Wear Reduces Aerodynamic Reserve Capacity And, Subsequently, the Capacity for Flight Behaviors Such as Load Carriage, Maneuverability, and Evading Predators. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.

Recommended Citation

J. T. Vance and S. P. Roberts, "The Effects of Artificial Wing Wear on the Flight Capacity of the Honey Bee Apis Mellifera," Journal of Insect Physiology, vol. 65, pp. 27 - 36, Elsevier, Jan 2014.

The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinsphys.2014.04.003

Department(s)

Biological Sciences

Keywords and Phrases

Honey bees; Hovering performance; Insect flight; Kinematics; Wing wear

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0022-1910

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2023 Elsevier, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jan 2014

PubMed ID

24768843