We have a robot that automates the PER process: it can rotate through 24 bees, present them with an odor, reward, or punishment, and photograph the proboscis extension response. See (Shafir, 2008) that describes this instrument. We also have a semi-automatic PER station.
We extract our own excellent honey twice a year!
This is a room in which bees are allowed to fly freely within a controlled environment. Temperature, humidity, and light cycles can be regulated.
A lab room with windows is attached to a large tent for free-flying bees. Experiments in the observation room may involve temperature controlled observation hives inside the lab, while bees are allowed to exit the hive into a large, controlled foraging arena.
Medium sized tents allow hives to be fed a controlled diet while still providing them with space to fly and natural weather conditions.
We keep many hives in the experimental and educational apiary located at our lab, as well as on the farm of the Faculty of Agriculture.
We proudly recycle the organic waste from our lab! We plan to use the resulting soil to grow flowers for the bees in our nectarivorous garden.
Measures the electric output of the antenna to the brain in response to an odor.
This apparatus is used to artificially inseminate queens. This method can be used to ensure insemination by specific drones, and to create known crosses between strains of honey bees.
This instrument is used to produce odors in a precise and controlled environment. Bees are presented with pheromones or other odors in an arena that allows observation of their behavior.
We use this instrument to measure the intensity of light reflected from the surface of flower petals.
We have binocular and dissecting microscopes that connect to a camera to take photos such as those shown on our "Research" page.