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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0PLOS One

FloBuzz: A modular feeder system for automated aversive stimulation in free-flying bees

  • Elvin Gultekinoglu1
  • Babur Erdem2
  • Atakan Botasun3
  • Okan Can Arslan4
  • Sedat Sevin5
  • Ayse Gul Gozen
  • Hande Alemdar
  • Erol Sahin
  • Ali Emre Turgut
5 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Mechanical Engineering, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Türkiye
  2. 2Center for Robotics and Artificial Intelligence (ROMER), Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Türkiye
  3. 3Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Türkiye
  4. 4Department of Biological Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Türkiye
  5. 5Department of Computer Engineering, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Türkiye
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Abstract

Understanding how environmental stressors affect pollinator behavior is essential for assessing ecosystem health. Automated flower and robotic feeder systems (AFRFSs) have transformed studies of pollinator foraging and learning, yet most remain reward-centric and cannot probe aversive learning under field conditions. Here, we present FloBuzz, a modular AFRFS that combines automated reward delivery with computer vision visit detection to trigger closed-loop electric shock stimulation in free-flying honey bees (Apis mellifera). The system consists of a 3D-printed feeder with a shock grid, a syringe pump with fluid level feedback, and a computer vision based shock module. In a replicated field proof-of-concept experiment, mean bee occupancy decreased with increasing stimulus voltage, demonstrating a measurable voltage-dependent deterrent response. These results validate the ability of FloBuzz to deliver automated, programmable aversive stimulation under outdoor conditions. Its modular architecture provides a flexible platform for future studies requiring controlled integration of appetitive and aversive stimuli in freely foraging bees.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{gultekinoglu2026flobuzz,
  title = {{FloBuzz: A modular feeder system for automated aversive stimulation in free-flying bees}},
  author = {Elvin Gultekinoglu and Babur Erdem and Atakan Botasun and Okan Can Arslan and Sedat Sevin and Ayse Gul Gozen and Hande Alemdar and Erol Sahin and Ali Emre Turgut},
  journal = {PLOS One},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0361207},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0361207},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - FloBuzz: A modular feeder system for automated aversive stimulation in free-flying bees
AU  - Elvin Gultekinoglu
AU  - Babur Erdem
AU  - Atakan Botasun
AU  - Okan Can Arslan
AU  - Sedat Sevin
AU  - Ayse Gul Gozen
AU  - Hande Alemdar
AU  - Erol Sahin
AU  - Ali Emre Turgut
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/26
JO  - PLOS One
DO  - 10.1371/journal.pone.0361207
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0361207
AB  - Understanding how environmental stressors affect pollinator behavior is essential for assessing ecosystem health. Automated flower and robotic feeder systems (AFRFSs) have transformed studies of pollinator foraging and learning, yet most remain reward-centric and cannot probe aversive learning under field conditions. Here, we present FloBuzz, a modular AFRFS that combines automated reward delivery with computer vision visit detection to trigger closed-loop electric shock stimulation in free-flying honey bees (Apis mellifera). The system consists of a 3D-printed feeder with a shock grid, a syringe pump with fluid level feedback, and a computer vision based shock module. In a replicated field proof-of-concept experiment, mean bee occupancy decreased with increasing stimulus voltage, demonstrating a measurable voltage-dependent deterrent response. These results validate the ability of FloBuzz to deliver automated, programmable aversive stimulation under outdoor conditions. Its modular architecture provides a flexible platform for future studies requiring controlled integration of appetitive and aversive stimuli in freely foraging bees.
SN  - 1932-6203
ER  -