Question 55 from UPSC CSE 2023 - Environme nt

Question

Which of the following organisms perform waggle dance for others of their kin to indicate the direction and the distance to a source of their food?

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: C. Honeybees

Strategy: - Identify the unique communication behavior described: a dance conveying food source distance and direction.
- Recognize this as the 'waggle dance,' a known landmark behavior of honeybees.
- Confirm this behavior is not observed in butterflies, dragonflies, or wasps.

Key Info: ## The Waggle Dance of Honeybees

The waggle dance is a unique and sophisticated form of communication performed by worker honeybees (*Apis* species). This complex behavior was first decoded by Karl von Frisch, who received a Nobel Prize for his work.

**Key aspects of the dance:**
-   **Pattern**: Bees move in a figure-of-eight pattern on the vertical surface of the honeycomb inside the hive.
-   **Direction**: The angle of the straight 'waggle' segment, relative to gravity (vertical), indicates the food source's direction relative to the sun.
-   **Distance**: The duration and vigor of the waggle portion signify the distance to the food source; longer waggles indicate farther distances.
-   **Outcome**: The dance efficiently transmits both distance and azimuthal direction information, guiding other forager bees to locate food.

**Comparison with other insects:**
-   Butterflies and dragonflies do not communicate food locations via such dances; their communication and social structures differ markedly.
-   Wasps, though social in some species, do not exhibit waggle dances.

The waggle dance in honeybees is a classic example studied in animal behavior, ethology, and behavioral ecology.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option A: Butterflies

IASCODEX · Answer

Option B: Dragonflies

IASCODEX · Answer

Option D: Wasps