Institut für Biologie, AG Neurobiologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Strasse 28-30, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
Proc Biol Sci. 2013 Mar 27;280(1759):20130528. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2013.0528. Print 2013 May 22.
Honeybees, like other insects, accumulate electric charge in flight, and when their body parts are moved or rubbed together. We report that bees emit constant and modulated electric fields when flying, landing, walking and during the waggle dance. The electric fields emitted by dancing bees consist of low- and high-frequency components. Both components induce passive antennal movements in stationary bees according to Coulomb's law. Bees learn both the constant and the modulated electric field components in the context of appetitive proboscis extension response conditioning. Using this paradigm, we identify mechanoreceptors in both joints of the antennae as sensors. Other mechanoreceptors on the bee body are potentially involved but are less sensitive. Using laser vibrometry, we show that the electrically charged flagellum is moved by constant and modulated electric fields and more strongly so if sound and electric fields interact. Recordings from axons of the Johnston organ document its sensitivity to electric field stimuli. Our analyses identify electric fields emanating from the surface charge of bees as stimuli for mechanoreceptors, and as biologically relevant stimuli, which may play a role in social communication.
蜜蜂和其他昆虫一样，在飞行和身体部位移动或摩擦时会积累电荷。我们报告说，蜜蜂在飞行、降落、行走和进行摇摆舞时会发出恒定和调制的电场。跳舞蜜蜂发出的电场由低频和高频分量组成。根据库仑定律，这两个分量都会在静止的蜜蜂身上诱导被动触角运动。蜜蜂在味觉性喙延伸反应条件反射的背景下学习恒定和调制的电场分量。使用这个范式，我们确定了触角的两个关节中的机械感受器作为传感器。蜜蜂身体上的其他机械感受器可能也参与其中，但敏感度较低。使用激光测振仪，我们表明带电的触角通过恒定和调制的电场移动，如果声音和电场相互作用，移动得更剧烈。记录约翰斯顿器官的轴突记录了它对电场刺激的敏感性。我们的分析确定了从蜜蜂表面电荷发出的电场作为机械感受器的刺激，以及作为生物相关的刺激，这可能在社会交流中发挥作用。
