On Training Trigona biroi :

Behavioral Complexity
and Apparent Patterns
Jomar F. Rabajante1, Alejandro C. Fajardo, Jr.2

1 Institute of Mathematical Sciences and

Physics, University of the Philippines Los
Baños, College, Laguna 4031, Philippines
2 Institute of Biological Sciences, University of the

Philippines Los Baños, College, Laguna

4031, Philippines
 Objectives

• Determine the complex behaviors of

Trigona biroi
• Determine a near-optimal way of training
the bees to learn a new food-type
• Determine the behavioral patterns of
Trigona biroi during
– Scouting
– Recruitment
– Foraging
 Complex Systems

• Complex systems are composed of

interacting components that show dynamic
behaviors. Usually, such systems have
sophisticated structures, which make their
designs hard to comprehend.
• However, even though complex systems
are complex, they still work-out for
stability, and recognizable behavioral
patterns may exist (attractor and edge-of-
chaos).
Characteristics of a
Complex System

Adaptable
 Related Experiment 1

• Open Field
 Related Experiment 2

• Closed
room
• No direct
sunlight
 Related Experiment 3

• Closed
room
• With direct
sunlight
 Related Experiment 3

• Closed
room
• With direct
sunlight
 Related Experiment 4
Independent Experiment 1
• Room with
direct
sunlight
• Open
Windows
 Independent Experiment 2

• Semi-
enclosed
area (semi-
open field)
 COMPLEXITY OF
BEE COLONIES
There are many factors to consider in training the
bees:
• The food itself (e.g. sucrose concentration)
• Sunlight / light
• Direction of sunlight
• Open space
• Food location
• Weather
• Etc…
APPARENT PATTERNS
 Duration in seconds

0
100

10
20
40
50
60
70
80
90

30
429
433
440
442
445
447
449
451
453
454
456
457
459
461
462
Scout Behavior Per Patch

Time of Day in Seconds

464
466
468
470
471
473
Successful Scouting

475
477
 Successful Scouting
Scout Behavior Per Patch
100
90
80
70
60
Seconds
Duration
in

50
40
30
20
10
0

611
592
573
575
577
580
584
586
589

595
598
601
603
605
607
609

613
615
617
619
Time of Day in Seconds
 Successful Foraging (Outside)
Number of Foragers per Patch
350

300
y = 7E-09x5 - 3E-06x4 + 0.000x3 - 0.020x2 + 0.468x - 1.507
R² = 0.980
250
Number of bees

200

150

100

50

10:21

12:20
6:50
7:14
7:33
7:46
8:29
8:42
8:50
8:59
9:08
9:17
9:25
9:33
9:41
9:49
9:57
10:05
10:13

10:29
10:37
10:45
10:53

13:05
11:10
11:30
11:50
-50
Time of day in seconds
 Successful Foraging (Outside)
180
160 y = 3E-09x5 - 1E-06x4 + 0.000x3 -
140 0.008x2 + 0.159x + 0.277
120 R² = 0.967
100
80
60 160
40 y = 8E-11x6 - 4E-08x5 + 7E-06x4 -
140
20 0.000x3 + 0.026x2 - 0.448x + 2.694
0 120 R² = 0.959
100
10:05
10:20
10:35
10:50

13:15
9:50

11:20
11:58
6:50
7:31
7:57
8:47
9:04
9:20
9:35

80
60
40
20
0
8:31
6:50
7:22
7:42

8:46
8:58
9:10
9:22
9:33
9:44
9:55
10:06
10:17
10:28
10:39
10:50
 Successful Foraging (Inside)
Number of Foragers per Patch
50

y = -3E-10x6 + 1E-07x5 - 2E-05x4 + 0.001x3 - 0.049x2 + 0.592x - 0.671

40
R² = 0.963

30
Number

Bees
of

20
y = 0.330x - 7.280
R² = 0.902
10

0
877
882
751
761
771
781
791
801
823
829
843
856
862
867
872

887
892
898
903
908
915
922
930
938
944
954
-10
Time of Day in Seconds
 Outside VS Inside Training

Using Two-Sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test

(Nonparametric), at 95% confidence level, the two
population have significant difference.

Inside a room
Outside semi-enclosed area
 Geometry of Footprints

Get Footprints
Geometry of Footprints
 Geometry of Footprints

Get Fractal Dimension

Binarize
 Geometry of Footprints

Get Fractal Dimension

On Training Trigona biroi :
Behavioral Complexity
and Apparent Patterns
Jomar F. Rabajante1, Alejandro C. Fajardo, Jr.2

1 Institute of Mathematical Sciences and

Physics, University of the Philippines Los
Baños, College, Laguna 4031, Philippines
2 Institute of Biological Sciences, University of the

Philippines Los Baños, College, Laguna

4031, Philippines