myrmepropagandistJul 27, 2023

Over on tiktok user @nomadicpancakes has observed a group of #bees that have learned to turn on the sensor on a water bottle filling station by walking over the target.

This is just the kind of thing bees are made to learn, they love targets and need to follow them when dealing with flowers all the time.

The interesting thing is that the bee who hits the target produces water for her sisters, herself less so. But these #eusocial girls seem to have that worked out!

https://www.tiktok.com/@nomadicpancakes/video/7255331484444314926

Show threadmyrmepropagandistJul 27, 2023

Bee dehydration is a serious problem. Why not design a water feeder just for the bees?

Some of the design challenges:
-standing water causes mosquitos
-bees can drown in water that's even a cm deep, ideally the feeder should reproduce dew drop like conditions
-if too many other things trigger the feeder it will waste water or be empty

It could be as simple as a runway that the bee lands on, then after walking through a tunnel there are a few drops of water to drink.

Show threadAaron Sawdey, Ph.D.Oct 9
@futurebird I once built a water dispenser for dogs and cats (winter dehydration of feral or “neighborhood” dogs in northern MN is a real issue) that worked with capacitive touch sensing—like phone screens but using a metal bowl as the sensing element. But it seems to me that designing a water station for bees might be even easier if they will just walk through a tunnel!
Show threadÆ Sea F.Oct 11

@acsawdey @futurebird

A simple IR break beam could sense the bees right on the runway. Oh, wait, bees can see IR, can't they?

Show threadAaron Sawdey, Ph.D.
@hcf @futurebird is it IR or UV? I would hope they would just think it’s a helpful warm light in the tunnel 😄
Oct 11 at 3:10pmWeb