Entomology Commons^™

Mechanisms Of Thermal Stability During Flight In The Honeybee Apis Mellifera, Stephen P. Roberts, Jon F. Harrison

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

Thermoregulation of the Thorax Allows Honeybees (Apis Mellifera) to Maintain the Flight Muscle Temperatures Necessary to Meet the Power Requirements for Flight and to Remain Active Outside the Hive Across a Wide Range of Air Temperatures (T(A)). to Determine the Heat-Exchange Pathways through Which Flying Honeybees Achieve Thermal Stability, We Measured Body Temperatures and Rates of Carbon Dioxide Production and Water Vapor Loss between T(A) Values of 21 and 45°C for Honeybees Flying in a Respirometry Chamber. Body Temperatures Were Not Significantly Affected by Continuous Flight Duration in the Respirometer, indicating that Flying Bees Were at Thermal Equilibrium. Thorax Temperatures …