Confessing that I believe the honey bee to be in many ways more
ecologically wise than we are, and certainly more socially cooperative, I
have wondered whether many 'robbing' processes aren't actually social
hygiene and sharing of resources to best advantage.  My suspicion is that,
for many cases of what has been called robbing, no greed, dominance, or
other human vice, should be projected onto the noble bee.
        The idea of competitivity in ecology is almost entirely a
projection from the filthy 'economics' mentality (one's gain must be
anther's loss).  Nature is characterised mostly by cooperation, not
competitivity.  E Goldsmith 'The Way' reviews this rather thoroughly.

        I have some amateur ideas on this but would like to hear from the
experts.

R


-
Robt Mann
Mulgoon Professor emeritus of Environmental Studies, U of Auckland
consultant stirrer & motorcyclist
P O Box 28878, Remuera, Auckland 1005, New Zealand  (9) 524 2949