Metabolic rates and metabolic power of honeybees in tethered flight related to temperature and drag (Hymenoptera: Apidae).

Worker honeybees of the race Apis mellifera carnica Pollmann 1879 were fed defined amounts of sugar solutions and were stimulated to fly in a flight mill (roundabout) at different temperatures and drag conditions. The bees' metabolic rate (oxygen consumption) was calculated from the amount of consumed sugar and the duration of flight. When subjected to additional drag the honeybees reduced the velocity of the flights, but did not alter their duration, so the oxygen turnover rate and the metabolic power were not changed. honeybees flying under normal conditions in the roundabout consumed significantly more oxygen at 35° than at 25° or 20°C. They flew faster, and with higher metabolic power, at 35° than at 20°C.