Fred Chase questions if bees will fly with a full moon, and if not why not.

I have observed bee flight on hot summer nights (90s during the day, and 70s
at night) here in Yakima, WA.  During the honey flow I have heard (you
couldn't observe) bees flying back to the apiary when it was so dark you
couldn't see to walk in the yard without turning on the porch light.  There
was only the slightest tint of light in the western sky at the horizon.
When it became "pitch dark" there was no more bee flight.  I also observed
the same thing in the morning.  Bees flying away from the apiary when it was
too dark to see the ground in front of you.

I have not observed bees to fly with a full moon, without some light from
the setting sun.  I think the literature says that bees fly using polarized
light which may be why they can fly when it is so dark, and even on a
heavily clouded day.  I presume the moon doesn't give off polarized light.
Later in the fall when the temperatures drop and the honey flow tapers off
the bees no longer fly so early or so late.

James C. Bach
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