Article Noxious stimulation induces self-protective behavior in bumblebees

Gibbons, M; Pasquini, E; Kowalewska, A; Read, E; Gibson, S; Crump, A; Solvi, C; Versace, E; Chittka, L

Abstract

It has been widely stated that insects do not show self-protective behavior toward noxiously-stimulated body parts, but this claim has never been empirically tested. Here, we tested whether an insect species displays a type of self-protective behavior: self-grooming a noxiously-stimulated site. We touched bumblebees ( Bombus terrestris ) on an antenna with a noxiously heated (65 degrees C) probe and found that, in the first 2 min after this stimulus, bees groomed their touched antenna more than their untouched antenna, and more than bees that were touched with an unheated probe or not touched at all did. Our results present evidence that bumblebees display self-protective behavior. We discuss the potential neural mechanisms of this behavior and the implications for whether insects feel pain.

Citation

Gibbons, M., Pasquini, E., Kowalewska, A., Read, E., Gibson, S., Crump, A., Solvi, C., Versace, E., & Chittka, L. (2024). Article Noxious stimulation induces self-protective behavior in bumblebees. iScience, 27(8), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2024.110440

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 1, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Jul 2, 2024
• Publication Date: 2024
• Deposit Date: Aug 19, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 19, 2024
• Journal: iScience
• Print ISSN: 2589-0042
• Electronic ISSN: 2589-0042
• Publisher: Cell Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 27
• Issue: 8
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2024.110440
• Keywords: STRESS-INDUCED ANALGESIA; OROFACIAL PAIN; FORMALIN TEST; DISSOCIATION; EVOLUTION; RESPONSES; REFLEX; SYSTEM; ACID; BEES