Q15 · UPSC Prelims 2023 · Set A · Environment and Ecology

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Which of the following organisms perform waggle dance for others of their kin to indicate the direction and the distance to a source of their food?

A Butterflies
B Dragonflies
C Honeybees
D Wasps

Correct answer: (c) Honeybees

Explanation

  1. A

    Butterflies

    Butterflies. No waggle dance.

  2. B

    Dragonflies

    Dragonflies. Visual hunters; no hive dance.

  3. C

    Honeybees

    Honeybees. The waggle dance encodes direction and distance of forage.

  4. D

    Wasps

    Wasps. Social wasps recruit, but the textbook waggle dance is Apis.

Summary. Official key is (c) honeybees. Karl von Frisch described the waggle dance: angle to the sun for direction, duration for distance. Butterflies, dragonflies and wasps do not perform that dance.