Rachel Cusing

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Rachel Cusing is a behavioral biologist whose research explores the intricate communication systems of social insects, with a particular focus on the honey bee dance language. Her most notable contribution is the development of a dancing honey bee robot, detailed in her 2018 paper "Dancing Honey bee Robot Elicits Dance-Following and Recruits Foragers," which has garnered 19 citations. This innovative work demonstrates that a robotic bee can successfully mimic the stereotypical motion patterns performed by forager bees on the comb, effectively recruiting nestmates to food, water, or resin sources in the darkness of the hive. By bridging robotics and ethology, Cusing has provided a powerful tool for experimentally manipulating and decoding the dance communication system—one of the most celebrated examples of animal signaling. Her research not only deepens our understanding of collective decision-making in honey bees but also opens new avenues for bio-inspired robotics. Cusing’s work stands out for its creative integration of technology and natural behavior, offering a compelling model for studying animal communication in controlled, repeatable ways.