In message <[log in to unmask]>, T & M Weatherhead <[log in to unmask]> writes >If we assume that the colour indicates a different >type of pollen, then most hives seemed to be going for the same type of >pollen in the same proportions but some were different. Why? I wonder if it is just the chance factor. Scouts from different hives may hit on different sources and are able to recruit other workers to go to their finds. Professor Ratnieks and his students found a proportion of bees went 11km (from memory) for the heather, much further than expected, but not all. I presume it is the competition from other scouts or dancing collectors is what determines the variation. A random or pseudo random selection of pollens would presumably also give the variety which adds up to a good balanced diet. -- James Kilty