Colony Losses are hardly a new thing, as shown in this excerpt from 29 BC:

>  Aristaeus the shepherd, quitting Tempe by the Peneus, when -- so runs the tale -- his bees were lost through sickness and hunger, sorrowfully stopped beside the sacred fount at the stream’s head, and with much complaint called on his mother thus : "O mother, mother Cyrene, who dwell in this flood’s depths, why, from the gods’ glorious line -- if indeed, as you say, Thymbraean Apollo is my father -- did you give me birth, to be hated of the fates? Or whither is your love for me banished? Why did you bid me hope for Heaven? Lo, even this very crown of my mortal life, which the skilful tending of crops and cattle had scarce wrought out for me for all my endeavour -- though you are my mother, I resign. Come, and with your own hand tear up my fruitful woods; put hostile flame to my stalls, destroy my crops, burn my seedlings, and swing the stout axe against my vines, if such loathing for my honour has seized you."

Some say that unto bees a share is given
Of the Divine Intelligence, and to drink
Pure draughts of ether; for God permeates all-
Earth, and wide ocean, and the vault of heaven-
From whom flocks, herds, men, beasts of every kind,
Draw each at birth the fine essential flame;
Yea, and that all things hence to Him return

-- Virgil, "Georgics"


>  Aristaeus is one of the most beneficent divinities in ancient mythology: he was worshipped as the protector of flocks and shepherds, of vine and olive plantations ; he taught men to hunt and keep bees.

-- 
Peter Loring Borst
Ithaca, NY  USA

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