A particle model analysing the behavioural rulesunderlying the collective flight of a bee swarmtowards the new nest

Abstract

The swarming of a bee colony is guided by a small group of scoutindividuals, which are informed of the target destination (the newnest). However, little is known on the underlying mechanisms, i.e. onhow the information is passed within the population. In this respect,we here present a discrete mathematical model to investigate theseaspects. In particular, each bee, represented by a material point, isassigned its status within the colony and set to move according toindividual strategies and social interactions. More specifically, wepropose alternative assumptions on the flight synchronization mechanismof uninformed individuals and on the characteristic dynamicsof the scout insects. Numerical realizations then point out the combinationsof behavioural hypotheses resulting in collective productivemovement. An analysis of the role of the scout bee percentage andof the phenomenology of the swarm in domains with structuralelements is finally performed.