Figure 1.
Apparatus used in scent conditioning in the stingless bee Melipona eburnea using the proboscis extension reflex (PER) with free-moving bees (fmPER). A bee housed in a glass vial in which the cap is replaced with plastic mesh. The bee is exposed to the trained scent (conditioned stimulus (CS)), and a plume of scented airflow is dispensed with a syringe. The unconditioned response is elicited by touching the antenna with the unconditioned stimulus (US). Conditioned PER occurs when the bee extends its proboscis through the mesh in response to the CS presented before receiving the US. The US was provided with the tip of a toothpick.