The effect of the earth's magnetic field on gravity orientation in the honey bee (Apis mellifica)

The misdirection (“Misweisung”) which indicates a definite direction in the bee's dance is correlated to daily variations of the total intensity (ΔF) of the earth's magnetic field (EMF). It depends on the orientation of the dancing place with regard to the EMF coordinates. The distance of the feeding place, however, is insignificant. There exists a positive correlation between the efficiency ofΔF and a progressive tilting of the comb toward the horizontal position. No difference is observed in the intensity and exactness of the bees' dancing whether they are dancing on the lower side of the oblique comb in a somewhat ‘hanging’ attitude or on the upper side. The efficiency ofΔF is comparable on both sides of the comb. Bees dancing on a horizontal comb orient primarily to the main first-order directions of the EMF and, to a lesser extent, to the second-order directions regardless of the direction of the feeding place.