Date: May 10, 2018
Source: Newcastle University
Scientists have discovered bees
linger on a flower, emptying it of nectar, because they have sugar-sensing
taste neurons which work together to prolong the pleasure of the sweetness.
Newcastle University researchers
report that the bees' taste neurons found on their proboscis -- their
mouthparts -- fire intense signals for up to 10 seconds -- much longer than the
taste neurons found in other insects.
Bees visit flowers to obtain
nectar, a sugary solution, which they eat to feed their colony and to fuel
their flight. Bees can taste sugars on their proboscis and when in contact with
food, taste neurons on the proboscis are activated signalling the presence of
food.
Publishing in Current
Biology, the researchers report that the neurons that specifically respond to
sugar exhibit a very intense activation, which persists up to 10 seconds.
While these neurons exhibit
intense activity, the bee will remain feeding at the same sugar source. Only
when this activity declines does the bee remove its proboscis to enable it to
try a further feeding point.
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