The Critical Role of Head Movements for Spatial Representation During Bumblebees Learning Flight

Bumblebees perform complex flight maneuvers around the barely visible entrance of their nest upon first departures. During these flights bees learn visual information about surroundings, possibly including its spatial layout. They rely on this to return home. Depth can be derived from apparent motion scenery bees' retina. This is shaped by animal's and orientation: Bees employ a saccadic gaze strategy, where rapid turns head (saccades) alternate with segments apparently constant direction (intersaccades). When during intersaccades kept relatively constant, contains distance animal environmental objects, thus, in an egocentric reference frame. Alternatively, when rotates fixed point space, perceives depth structure relative pivot point, i.e., allocentric If at nest-hole, nest-centric. Here, we investigate which frames bumblebees perceive learning flights. By precisely tracking orientation, found that half time, appears actively. However, only few corresponding points are close entrance. Our results indicate several they surroundings behaviorally relevant location.