Hungry Bees 'Shout' to Protect Food Sources from Eavesdroppers

A recent study conducted by researchers from the University of California, San Diego, found that a certain species of bees actually "shout" when they find food to prevent any predators from pursuing the same sources.

Lead study author Elinor Licthenberg, a postdoctoral researcher at Washington State University, found that two stingless bees from the genus Trigonathat.

In a controlled study, researchers discovered that the Trigona hyalinata often avoided visiting food sources that were connected by Trigona spinipes in order to prevent themselves from being attacked.

Researchers created three models to illustrate the bees' decision-making process. They ran the model for T. hyalinata eavesdropping on T. spinipes, T. spinipes on T. hyalinata, and Melipona rufiventris on T. spinipes. Results for all models revealed that eavesdroppers usually stay away.

"Our study provides a new way of looking at how eavesdroppers affect the evolution of animal communication signals," Lichtenberg said, in a news release.

Though the eavesdroppers were supposed to be attracted by conspicuous signals, the study proved that for bees, they would usually perceive the shouting of other species as a sign to stay away.

More information regarding the findings can be seen via the journal Current Biology.