Insect Colony Movement
In general, colonies of social insects such as bees or ants move either to change nesting sites when the current site deteriorates in quality, or when the mother colony splits to start a new colony. Deterioration of nest quality can occur in a variety of ways. Perhaps the most common is for the nest to come under attack by a predator, forcing the colony to abandon the nest on short notice and reassemble elsewhere. Emergency moves may also be elicited by physical disasters such as flood or fire. The technique of pacifying honeybees with smoke, which has long been practiced by beekeepers as well as honey hunters, is effective because the smoke induces the workers to begin preparations for moving to escape fire, and to become less likely to sting those disturbing the nest.
Colony movement may also be precipitated by more gradual deterioration of nest quality. For example, an increase in populations of parasites or microorganisms affecting the brood(young insects that hatched together)may induce the colony to establish a clean nest elsewhere. Also, changes in the nest that increase the colony’s vulnerability to predators may lead the colony to search for a more secure nest. A response to elevated predation risk has been documented in one of the Asian honeybee species, Apis florea. Colonies of this species construct their nests in the open, suspending a wax comb the size of a dinner plate from a thin branch in dense vegetation and then protecting the comb with a curtain of interlinked worker bees. Because the workers and the colonies are very small, and can mount only a relatively weak stinging defense when attacked, the cover of vegetation plays a crucial role in their defense against predation. Loss of leaf cover as seasons change is sufficient to trigger a move. In some species, colonies may also change their nesting sites in response to a deterioration of food resources or climatic conditions in the habitat. Relocation can be beneficial if it brings the colony nearer to rich food resources or allows it to occupy a nest with a more favorable microclimate.
Any benefits that arise must, of course, be balanced against potential costs. Costs of colony movement might include, for example, the energetic and time costs of traveling and transporting brood and nest materials; reduction of the workforce as individuals are disoriented or lost to predators; loss of any food stores that have been left behind; the energetic costs of constructing the new nest; and interruption of colony growth during the time required to move, establish a new nest, and find food sources in the new location. Unsurprisingly, many social insects have evolved strategies that reduce these costs, thus enhancing the net benefit of the move.
Even with minimal time for preparation, colonies are often able to take steps that increase the probability of re-forming the colony and returning to the tasks of acquiring resources, growing in size, and reproducing. Colony-specific odors and other means allow individuals to find nestmates quickly. In ant colonies that are forced into an emergency move (easily observed if one simulates a drastic predatory attack by exposing a nest inside a rotten log or under a flagstone), workers can often be seen carrying brood as they escape. In species, such as honeybees, that hoard food in the nest, workers try to load themselves to capacity with food before they escape the nest. In the Asian honeybee Apis florea, foragers from colonies forced to abandon a nest return to it in the first few days after the move to retrieve honey that may have been left behind and to collect wax for constructing the new comb.
When the deterioration of conditions is more gradual, or in the context of migration in search of improved conditions, the colony may be able to prepare more effectively for its departure. For example, in both Apis florea and A. dorsata, both Asian honeybees that occupy exposed nests, colonies start to prepare for a local or long-distance move several days in advance by ceasing brood rearing and allowing developing brood to reach the adult stage so the new brood that the colony already invested in can join the workforce for the move.
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In general, colonies of social insects such as bees or ants move either to change nesting sites when the current site deteriorates in quality, or when the mother colony splits to start a new colony. Deterioration of nest quality can occur in a variety of ways. Perhaps the most common is for the nest to come under attack by a predator, forcing the colony to abandon the nest on short notice and reassemble elsewhere. Emergency moves may also be elicited by physical disasters such as flood or fire. The technique of pacifying honeybees with smoke, which has long been practiced by beekeepers as well as honey hunters, is effective because the smoke induces the workers to begin preparations for moving to escape fire, and to become less likely to sting those disturbing the nest.
According to paragraph 1, deterioration of nest quality probably most often occurs when
Factual Information Questions事实信息题
Athere is a physical disaster such as a flood or fire
Bpart of an insect colony splits off to form a new colony
Cthe nest is disturbed by one of the insects’ predators
Dbeekeepers and honey hunters fill a nest with smoke
2
In general, colonies of social insects such as bees or ants move either to change nesting sites when the current site deteriorates in quality, or when the mother colony splits to start a new colony. Deterioration of nest quality can occur in a variety of ways. Perhaps the most common is for the nest to come under attack by a predator, forcing the colony to abandon the nest on short notice and reassemble elsewhere. Emergency moves may also be elicited by physical disasters such as flood or fire. The technique of pacifying honeybees with smoke, which has long been practiced by beekeepers as well as honey hunters, is effective because the smoke induces the workers to begin preparations for moving to escape fire, and to become less likely to sting those disturbing the nest.
Which of the following can be inferred from paragraph 1 about the use of smoke by beekeepers and honey hunters?
Inference Questions推理题
AIt causes bees to respond as they would when a physical disaster is possible.
BIt is most often used in emergencies to encourage bees to move.
CIt is risky because bees tend to sting when disturbed.
DIt is an effective means of maintaining the health of a bee colony.
3
Colony movement may also be precipitated by more gradual deterioration of nest quality. For example, an increase in populations of parasites or microorganisms affecting the brood(young insects that hatched together)may induce the colony to establish a clean nest elsewhere. Also, changes in the nest that increase the colony’s vulnerability to predators may lead the colony to search for a more secure nest. A response to elevated predation risk has been documented in one of the Asian honeybee species, Apis florea. Colonies of this species construct their nests in the open, suspending a wax comb the size of a dinner plate from a thin branch in dense vegetation and then protecting the comb with a curtain of interlinked worker bees. Because the workers and the colonies are very small, and can mount only a relatively weak stinging defense when attacked, the cover of vegetation plays a crucial role in their defense against predation. Loss of leaf cover as seasons change is sufficient to trigger a move. In some species, colonies may also change their nesting sites in response to a deterioration of food resources or climatic conditions in the habitat. Relocation can be beneficial if it brings the colony nearer to rich food resources or allows it to occupy a nest with a more favorable microclimate.
The word “dense” in the passage is closest in meaning to
Vocabulary Questions词汇题
Athick
Btall
Csuitable
Dspecific
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Colony movement may also be precipitated by more gradual deterioration of nest quality. For example, an increase in populations of parasites or microorganisms affecting the brood(young insects that hatched together)may induce the colony to establish a clean nest elsewhere. Also, changes in the nest that increase the colony’s vulnerability to predators may lead the colony to search for a more secure nest. A response to elevated predation risk has been documented in one of the Asian honeybee species, Apis florea. Colonies of this species construct their nests in the open, suspending a wax comb the size of a dinner plate from a thin branch in dense vegetation and then protecting the comb with a curtain of interlinked worker bees. Because the workers and the colonies are very small, and can mount only a relatively weak stinging defense when attacked, the cover of vegetation plays a crucial role in their defense against predation. Loss of leaf cover as seasons change is sufficient to trigger a move. In some species, colonies may also change their nesting sites in response to a deterioration of food resources or climatic conditions in the habitat. Relocation can be beneficial if it brings the colony nearer to rich food resources or allows it to occupy a nest with a more favorable microclimate.
According to paragraph 2, Apis florea protect their nests from predators in which TWO of the following ways? To receive credit, you must select TWO answers.
Factual Information Questions事实信息题
Select 2 answers
ABy hiding their nest in vegetation
BBy forming a protective wall of interconnected bees
CBy building a protective curtain made of thin branches
DBy building their nest on the ground and covering it with leaves
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Any benefits that arise must, of course, be balanced against potential costs. Costs of colony movement might include, for example, the energetic and time costs of traveling and transporting brood and nest materials; reduction of the workforce as individuals are disoriented or lost to predators; loss of any food stores that have been left behind; the energetic costs of constructing the new nest; and interruption of colony growth during the time required to move, establish a new nest, and find food sources in the new location. Unsurprisingly, many social insects have evolved strategies that reduce these costs, thus enhancing the net benefit of the move.
In paragraph 3, all of the following are mentioned as potential costs of moving an insect colony EXCEPT
Negative Factual Information Questions否定事实信息题
Athe resources required to move materials and build a new nest
Bthe possibility that some insects will be lost or killed during the move
Cthe inability to move all stored food from the old location to the new
Dthe time spent identifying a suitable location for the new nest
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Even with minimal time for preparation, colonies are often able to take steps that increase the probability of re-forming the colony and returning to the tasks of acquiring resources, growing in size, and reproducing. Colony-specific odors and other means allow individuals to find nestmates quickly. In ant colonies that are forced into an emergency move (easily observed if one simulates a drastic predatory attack by exposing a nest inside a rotten log or under a flagstone), workers can often be seen carrying brood as they escape. In species, such as honeybees, that hoard food in the nest, workers try to load themselves to capacity with food before they escape the nest. In the Asian honeybee Apis florea, foragers from colonies forced to abandon a nest return to it in the first few days after the move to retrieve honey that may have been left behind and to collect wax for constructing the new comb.
Why does the author provide the information that an emergency move by ants is “easily observed if one simulates a drastic predatory attack by exposing a nest inside a rotten log or under a flagstone”?
Rhetorical Purpose Questions修辞目的题
ATo illustrate a type of attack that is most dangerous to insects
BTo argue how easy it is for predators to locate and attack insect colonies
CTo suggest a simple experiment to observe a colony’s behavior during an emergency move
DTo demonstrate that individuals have difficulty making emergency moves during sudden predatory attacks
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Even with minimal time for preparation, colonies are often able to take steps that increase the probability of re-forming the colony and returning to the tasks of acquiring resources, growing in size, and reproducing. Colony-specific odors and other means allow individuals to find nestmates quickly. In ant colonies that are forced into an emergency move (easily observed if one simulates a drastic predatory attack by exposing a nest inside a rotten log or under a flagstone), workers can often be seen carrying brood as they escape. In species, such as honeybees, that hoard food in the nest, workers try to load themselves to capacity with food before they escape the nest. In the Asian honeybee Apis florea, foragers from colonies forced to abandon a nest return to it in the first few days after the move to retrieve honey that may have been left behind and to collect wax for constructing the new comb.
The phrase “to capacity” in the passage is closest in meaning to
Vocabulary Questions词汇题
Aimmediately
Bequally
Crepeatedly
Dfully
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Even with minimal time for preparation, colonies are often able to take steps that increase the probability of re-forming the colony and returning to the tasks of acquiring resources, growing in size, and reproducing. Colony-specific odors and other means allow individuals to find nestmates quickly. In ant colonies that are forced into an emergency move (easily observed if one simulates a drastic predatory attack by exposing a nest inside a rotten log or under a flagstone), workers can often be seen carrying brood as they escape. In species, such as honeybees, that hoard food in the nest, workers try to load themselves to capacity with food before they escape the nest. In the Asian honeybee Apis florea, foragers from colonies forced to abandon a nest return to it in the first few days after the move to retrieve honey that may have been left behind and to collect wax for constructing the new comb.
According to paragraph 4, why might some honeybees return to a nest after abandoning it?
Factual Information Questions事实信息题
ATo collect food and materials for building the new nest
BTo search for worker bees that may have remained at the nest
CTo determine if it is possible to repair the nest
DTo collect brood that may have been left behind
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Even with minimal time for preparation, colonies are often able to take steps that increase the probability of re-forming the colony and returning to the tasks of acquiring resources, growing in size, and reproducing. ⬛Colony-specific odors and other means allow individuals to find nestmates quickly. ⬛In ant colonies that are forced into an emergency move (easily observed if one simulates a drastic predatory attack by exposing a nest inside a rotten log or under a flagstone), workers can often be seen carrying brood as they escape.⬛ In species, such as honeybees, that hoard food in the nest, workers try to load themselves to capacity with food before they escape the nest. ⬛In the Asian honeybee Apis florea, foragers from colonies forced to abandon a nest return to it in the first few days after the move to retrieve honey that may have been left behind and to collect wax for constructing the new comb.
Look at the four squaresthat indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage
In addition to their young, insects can also carry other items from their old nest to the new.Insert Text Questions句子插入题
Where would the sentence best fit？Click on a square sentence to the passage.
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It is common for social insects, such as various species of bees and ants, to change the location of their nest.
Prose Summary Questions概要小结题
Select 3 answers
AWhen a natural disaster or predation disturbs a nest, its insects may split up into different groups and form several colonies in new locations
BInsects that are able to hide their nests in vegetation or other objects rarely experience predation and do not often move their nests.
CInsects’ strategies of limiting the loss of resources when moving may be especially effective when the insects have more time to prepare for the move
DColony movement sometimes occurs in emergencies because of sudden events, but more gradual changes in conditions may also lead insects to relocate.
EMoving the nest to a new location may lead to better safety, access to food, and climatic conditions for the insects but also involves a loss of energy, time, and other resources.
FThe size of the new nest and the distance to it determine the preparation time that insects require to move their nest and re-form their colony successfully.
