Navigating in clutter: how bumblebees optimize flight behaviour through experience.

ABSTRACT: Bumblebees are excellent navigators that travel long distances while following paths to known locations. They forage not only in open terrain but also in cluttered environments where obstacles force them to deviate from direct paths. This study investigated the underexplored aspect of how bees become experienced foragers and optimize flight behaviour in cluttered terrains. We recorded flight trajectories of novice bees with no prior experience in navigating cluttered laboratory environments and monitored their behavioural performance as they gained experience on subsequent foraging trips through numerous obstacles. By controlling for experience levels, we analysed how flight characteristics evolve with increasing expertise. Successful navigation in cluttered terrain requires avoiding colli

SUBMITTER: Jeschke M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12319407 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature