Bee Tracking Revolution: Scientists Use Micro QR Codes to Monitor Honey Bee Behavior and Lifespan | New Research

In a groundbreaking study, researchers at Penn State University have uncovered fascinating new details about honey bee behaviour and lifespan using an innovative tracking method: miniature QR codes attached to bees’ backs. This technological breakthrough in bee monitoring is reshaping our understanding of bee foraging patterns and colony dynamics.

Dr. Margarita López-Uribe, associate professor of entomology at Penn State University, led a team that made several surprising discoveries about honey bee foraging patterns. Their research revealed that while most bees complete their foraging trips within minutes, some spend up to two hours outside the hive. “This suggests that most of the foraging the bees do occurs very close to the hive,” López-Uribe explains.

The research team developed an ingenious tracking system using AprilTags – specialized QR codes smaller than a pinky fingernail. These tags were carefully glued to the bees’ backs in a process that required precise application. “If you don’t add enough, the bees can remove the tag, but if you add too much, you can get glue all over the bees’ bodies,” notes López-Uribe.

One of the most significant findings challenges conventional wisdom about bee longevity. Robyn Underwood, a Penn State Extension apiculture educator and study co-author, explains, “We’re seeing bees foraging for six weeks, and they don’t start foraging until they are already about two weeks old, so they live a lot longer than we thought.” This discovery contradicts the previously accepted 28-day lifespan.

Researchers glued tiny QR codes onto the backs of bees

The research has important implications for organic beekeeping practices in the United States. Current standards require bee colonies to be placed in pesticide-free zones within a 5-kilometer radius. This study’s findings about foraging patterns could help refine these requirements and strengthen organic beekeeping standards.

Advanced Monitoring System

The team’s monitoring setup included:

• Customized hive entrance with imaging system
• 24/7 automated monitoring
• Cost-effective equipment
• Capability to track over 32,000 bees

Future Applications and Research Goals

The research team designed their system to be open-access and affordable, encouraging widespread adoption. “One of the goals of developing this system open-access and with low-cost equipment was to be able to transfer this method to be replicated across dozens (or hundreds) of landscapes,” López-Uribe states.

This innovative study, published in HardwareX, represents a significant advancement in bee research methodology and could revolutionize our approach to bee conservation and beekeeping practices.

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The paper was published in the journal HardwareX.