IDENTITY MATCHING TO SAMPLE IN MELIPONA BEES OF THE GENUS MELIPONA (M. QUADRIFASCIATA AND M. RUFIVENTRIS)

Abstract

Previous studies with honeybees used matching-to-sample (MTS) procedure to establish relations between stimuli. Several studies on discriminative learning in honeybees have reported the use of Apis mellifera, but only a few studies have used other species, such as bees of the genus Melipona. The objective of the present study was to establish identity relations using a Y-maze apparatus in two species of honeybees. Both groups received training on blue-blue and yellow-yellow visual identity relations. Four of five Melipona quadrifasciata bees and four of six Melipona rufiventris bees learned the task. Our results extend the generality of responding controlled by identity relations in nonhumans. Keywords: matching-to-sample, identity matching, Melipona quadrifasciata, Melipona rufiventris.