Necrophagy in honey bees (Apis mellifera): a forensic application of scent foraging behavior

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dc.contributor.advisorLord, Wayne
dc.contributor.authorMorice, Brian David
dc.contributor.committeeMemberBarthell, John
dc.contributor.committeeMemberJourdan, Thomas
dc.date.accessioned2020-07-09T14:41:01Z
dc.date.available2020-07-09T14:41:01Z
dc.date.issued2019
dc.description.abstractScent training and field detection trials were conducted to determine if honey bee (Apis mellifera) foraging behavior could be employed as a practical application in the location of vertebrate carrion for use in interdiction and recovery efforts of illegally trafficked wildlife. Resource recognition and querying trials consisted of two components. Honey bees were trained to associate chemical compounds found in decaying tissues with a high-quality food source via introduction of the compounds into a sugar solution. Randomized scented and non-scented sugar solution choices were subsequently provided to hived bees at varying distances within a rural outdoor study area. Following initial forager recruitment by scouts, twice the number of bees were observed feeding at carrion-scented stations. Additional field trials performed using wildlife carrion reinforced experimental results. Scent trained scout bees showed a marked interest in decomposing wildlife remains by aerially investigating and landing on the carrion. These findings demonstrate honey bee retention of carrion sensory recognition capabilities and support the cabronid wasp theory of honey bee evolutionary origins. Applications for forensic remains detection, wildlife trafficking interdiction, and endangered species conservation are indicated.
dc.identifier.oclc(OCoLC)1435631173
dc.identifier.other(AlmaMMSId)9983031710402196
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/11244/325104
dc.rightsAll rights reserved by the author, who has granted UCO Chambers Library the non-exclusive right to share this material in its online repositories. Contact UCO Chambers Library's Digital Initiatives Working Group at diwg@uco.edu for the permission policy on the use, reproduction or distribution of this material.
dc.subject.keywordsApis mellifera
dc.subject.keywordsCarrion
dc.subject.keywordsForaging
dc.subject.keywordsNecrophagy
dc.subject.lcshHoneybee
dc.subject.lcshAnimals
dc.subject.lcshAnimal carcasses
dc.subject.lcshForensic sciences
dc.thesis.degreeM.S., Forensic Science
dc.titleNecrophagy in honey bees (Apis mellifera): a forensic application of scent foraging behavior
dc.typeAcademic theses
thesis.degree.grantorJackson College of Graduate Studies.
uco.groupUCO - Graduate Works and Theses::UCO - Theses

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