Evaluating Responses of Honey Bees1 to Sugar Solutions Using an Artificial-Flower Feeder2

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Abstract
An artificial-flower feeder was designed to compare the acceptibility of sugar solutions to foraging honey bees, Apis mellifera L. Discrimination against the least preferred solutions was apparently reduced and then eliminated as the number of bees imbibing was increased. Honey bees collected sucrose in preference to fructose and fructose in preference to glucose; 30-50% sucrose in preference to higher or lower concentrations; showed no preference between solutions ranging in pH from 3.2 to 8.8 but rejected those with a pH lower or higher; and showed an aversion to sucrose solutions containing potassium salts.

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