Ruth Rosin claims I said " there is no doubt that honeybees have a  
DL"  This is not true--I asked if someone would explain what the  
observed behavior was about.

Look, any biologist who studies animal behavior finds that when  
something happens like the DL of the returning forgers to the hive  
there must be an explanation.  Bees or any animal will not expend  
energy for something unless it has a "benefit".  Animals tend to  
conserve energy.  So I asked if someone would explain what they think  
this behavior is about.  Why a Dance when walking through the hive  
would be enough to provide other foragers with the scent?  Why would  
a student do jumping jacks to ask a question when you simply need to  
raise a hand?

I would hazard that a combination of the two components odor  
detection & the behavior are somehow coupled to maximize foraging by  
those bees receptive.  I don't believe we can continue to discount  
the behavior as not important " and that as their fine discrimination  
of odors is also not important.

So as I asked What is the meaning of the dance--is it a language do  
insects (bees) have the ability to communicate (piping) or are they  
only able to perform rudimentary "instinctual" tasks irrelevant of  
any communication language?

Mike

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