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Title: Method for training honeybees to respond to olfactory stimuli and enhancement of memory retention therein

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1230011

A specialized conditioning protocol for honeybees that is designed for use within a complex agricultural ecosystem. This method ensures that the conditioned bees will be less likely to exhibit a conditioned response to uninfected plants, a false positive response that would render such a biological sensor unreliable for agricultural decision support. Also described is a superboosting training regime that allows training without the aid of expensive equipment and protocols for training in out in the field. Also described is a memory enhancing cocktail that aids in long term memory retention of a vapor signature. This allows the bees to be used in the field for longer durations and with fewer bees trained overall.

Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC52-06NA25396
Assignee:
LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL SECURITY, LLC
Patent Number(s):
9,210,914
Application Number:
13/439,825
OSTI ID:
1230011
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 2012 Apr 04
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (10)

Method and apparatus for conditioning honey bees patent May 2005
Utilization of invertebrate learning for flexible and sensitive monitoring and identification of chemicals patent July 2005
Classical conditioning of proboscis extension in honeybees (Apis mellifera). journal January 1983
Associative Mechanosensory Conditioning of the Proboscis Extension Reflex in Honeybees journal May 2004
Learning at Different Satiation Levels Reveals Parallel Functions for the cAMP-Protein Kinase A Cascade in Formation of Long-Term Memory journal May 2004
Asymmetrical generalisation between pheromonal and floral odours in appetitive olfactory conditioning of the honey bee ( Apis mellifera L.) journal September 2001
Behavioral development and olfactory learning in the honeybee (Apis mellifera) journal January 1999
Learning in the Africanized Honey Bee: Apis mellifera L. journal September 1997
Caffeine in Citrus flowers journal September 1999
Selective modulation of task performance by octopamine in honey bee (Apis mellifera) division of labour journal May 2005

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