Peter,


I hope you collect a few of these bees, have a look at them under the microscope, and tell us whether all their appendages are there or not.  Insects normally have three thoracic segments.  There are one pair of wings per second and third segment, and one pair of legs per segment.   Flies, in contrast to bees, have one pair of wings and instead of a second pair they have a pair of "halteres", nubby little things that don't function in flight.


Perhaps that odd hive is exhibiting some kind of mutation that causes stunting of the second pair of wings?  It would be interesting to hear more!


Christina

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