CSIRO, University of Tasmania scientists fit tiny sensors onto honey bees to study behaviour

Scientists in Tasmania are fitting thousands of honey bees with tiny sensors as part of a project aimed at understanding the insect's behaviour and population decline. The sensors measure 2.5 millimetres by 2.5mm and act like a vehicle's "e-TAG", recording when the bees pass particular checkpoints. "We take the bee into a cold place, usually to a fridge about five degrees Celsius, for five minutes and that is enough to have the bees sleeping," Dr de Souza said. Next step: shrink sensors to fit fruit flies, mosquitoes Researchers are releasing about 20 honey bees a day from hives in southern Tasmania.