Modulation of decision-making latency by innate, learned and contextual factors in bumblebees

Abstract Foraging bee decision-making research has focused on choice determinants, and the variability and underlying causes of pre-choice latency remain understudied. Here, individual bumblebees (Bombus impatiens) were trained to associate one colored stimulus with a medium-value reward and another with a novel, higher-value reward. The experimental design consists of seven blocks, each containing four consecutive single-stimulus presentations followed by a forced binary choice. The latency to choose a stimulus and the type of choice during dual-choice trials were analysed. In dual-choice trials, bees in the yellow-high reward group showed a slower increase in high-reward selection than those in the blue-high group, suggesting persistent innate color bias. Response latencies for the low-reward stimulus systematically increased across blocks, indicating progressive devaluation. Early learning phases showed a temporary increase in response latency, extending previous findings on experience-dependent adjustments in acceptance thresholds. Latency in single-stimulus trials correlated with binary choice results, though choice proved a stronger indicator of preference than latency. Certain options elicited faster responses when presented with an alternative than when presented alone. Together, these findings support a deliberative model of bumblebee decision-making, in which pre-choice latency is modulated by innate preferences, associative learning, and immediate context. Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.