1. By Ambar A, Laurence T, Ben H, Sam H, Grace W, Jaclyn C, Beyra T, Ross L, and Jackson L

2. Introduction  Why are Apis mellifera disappearing so quickly?  Do bees have the ability to see a predator’s home and avoid it?  Hypothesis and Prediction: If the Apis mellifera avoid predators because they can see the lair, and avoid these areas, and we set up 2 feeding dishes, one that is our control and one with a predator’s lair on it, then the bees should avoid the dish with the lair.

3. Method  Experimental design  Number of bees fed and where  Observations of bee behavior  15 minutes  Switch petri dishes every 2.5 min.  Sample size n=94 Figure 1: Experimental Design

4. Results Control DishExperimental DishTotalP-Value Group 13021510.131219 Group 21411250.345019 Group 3162180.000656 Groups Combined 6034940.004774

5. Control DishExperimental DishTotalP-Value Group 13021510.131219 Group 21411250.345019 Group 3162180.000656 Groups Combined 6034940.004774 Conclusion  Apis mellifera actively avoid environments that may subject the organisms to danger, such as spider webs.  Data and research shows:  Apis mellifera's vision is an important part of their ability to defend against predators. (Blackledge, 1999)

6. Thank You!  The Nieh Lab  Dr. Eben Goodale  Jim Berrian and James Hung

7. Works Cited  Drees, B.M. "Honey Bee." Entomology at Texas A&M University - Home. Agrilife. Web. 02 Sept. 2011..  Kaplan, Kim. "ARS : Questions and Answers: Colony Collapse Disorder." ARS : Home. United States Department of Agriculture, 17 Dec. 2010. Web. 05 Sept. 2011..  “Bee Research Products and Services." ARS : Home. United States Department of Agriculture, 6 Sept. 2007. Web. 16 Oct. 2011..  "Honeybee Colony Collapse Disorder | Pesticides | US EPA." US Environmental Protection Agency. United States Environmental Protection Agency, 18 Feb. 2011. Web. 05 Sept. 2011..  Blackledge, Todd A., and John W. Wenzell. "The Evolution of Cryptic Spider Silk: a Behavioral Test." Behavior Ecology. Oxford Journals, 26 July 1999. Web. 8 Nov. 2011..