Speaker/Affiliation: Thomas Collett Ph.D. Profes

sor Biology and Environmental Science University of Sussex

When/Lo

cation: 5/15/08 12:00 PM SEA 4.244

Host: Harold H. Zakon

Ti

tle of Talk: ''Learning flights in bumblebees: Flight manoeuvres for acquir

ing visual
landmark information''

Reception with Refreshments at

11:30 AM

Abstract: Bumblebees leaving their nest for the first time

may remain out foraging for an hour or more and are then able to find their
nest entrance again. We are analysing the specialised flights that bees pe

rform on departure to acquire in one trial the necessary landmark informati

on for guiding their return. And we are looking for similarities in the pat

hs of outward and return flights. I''ll discuss these learning and return f

lights against the background of what we already know about landmark learni

ng and guidance in social insects.