DOI: 10.5061/dryad.ngf1vhj5r
title: Data from: Bees modulate behavior during nectar foraging in response to direct ant aggression (<em>Hymenoptera</em>: <em>Apidae</em> and <em>Formicidae</em>)

description: The Argentine ant Linepithema humile is one of the most invasive and
 problematic ant species; it has been introduced to Mediterranean-type
 habitats around the globe. In invaded areas, the Argentine ant is known to
 displace and harass native insects. In the current climate of global
 pollinator declines, it is important to document and quantify the impacts
 of biotic interactions on the foraging and health of pollinator species.
 Using a bumble bee system, we sought to investigate the behaviors
 exhibited by bumble bees when encountering ants and what factors (e.g.,
 the number of ants, or specific aggressive encounters with ants)
 influenced the bee’s subsequent behaviors and decision whether to continue
 foraging. These behavior data report the sequences of behaviors involved
 in the interactions between common eastern bumble bees (Bombus impatiens)
 and Argentine ants (Linepithema humile) on artificial nectar
 feeders. Our work clearly demonstrates that bumble bee responses
 to ant encounters fell into two behavioral clusters. Cluster 1 consisted
 of the ants that would continue to feed, engage in non-aggressive actions,
 or would abandon foraging altogether. The bees in Cluster 2 exhibited
 longer and more diverse behavioral sequences, which commonly involved
 aggressive behaviors. These findings clarify how ants influence bumble bee
 behavior and identify factors associated with bees transitioning among
 discrete behaviors. Our study further highlights the fact that Argentine
 ants disrupt bee foraging in predictable ways.
description: # Data from: Bees modulate behavior during nectar foraging in response to
 direct ant aggression (*Hymenoptera*: *Apidae* and *Formicidae*) Dataset
 DOI: [10.5061/dryad.ngf1vhj5r](10.5061/dryad.ngf1vhj5r) ## Description of
 the data and file structure This dataset is from the manuscript "Bees
 Modulate Behavior During Nectar Foraging in Response to Direct Ant
 Aggression" and provides the data analyzed in this manuscript. ###
 Files and variables #### File: transition.data.csv
 **Description:** Contains one worksheet ##### Variables * RecrdID: unique
 identifier of the behavioral sequence * Date: date of observation *
 ClnyID: Colony identification number * TrialID: Trial identification
 number * BeeID: Unique bee id; usually a number but may be a combination
 of numbers and a color (e.g., 64p is 64 pink while 64b is 64 blue). No
 colony had multiple bees with the same number and color combination. *
 Feeder: location of the treatment feeder (left or right) * Fed.: whether
 the bee fed during this visit or not * String: behavioral string. Letters
 refer to specific behaviors listed below (see Description of behaviors). *
 Num.ants: How many ants were on the feeder that the bee was on. This was
 recorded every few minutes throughout each trial. ##### Description of
 behaviors f = Feeding; this means the bee fed for &gt;1 sec a = bee
 antennated ants on the feeder, such that one or both of a bee’s antenna
 contacted any part of an ant s = bee stepped on an ant t = any contact of
 the bee to an ant involving any part of bee’s body that was not the
 antennae or the tarsi g = bee gaped its mandibles at an ant c = bee biting
 an ant, which was often accompanied with an audible crunch sound. Ants
 commonly died after this behavior. b = ant biting a bee with its
 mandibles. Most often ants bit the bee legs. i = ant applying a defensive
 chemical (likely an iridoid) on a bee by the ant touching its gaster to a
 bee