Skip Navigational Links
LISTSERV email list manager
LISTSERV - COMMUNITY.LSOFT.COM
LISTSERV Menu
Log In
Log In
LISTSERV 17.5 Help - BEE-L Archives
LISTSERV Archives
LISTSERV Archives
Search Archives
Search Archives
Register
Register
Log In
Log In

BEE-L Archives

Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology

BEE-L@COMMUNITY.LSOFT.COM

Menu
LISTSERV Archives LISTSERV Archives
BEE-L Home BEE-L Home

Log In Log In
Register Register

Subscribe or Unsubscribe Subscribe or Unsubscribe

Search Archives Search Archives
Options: Use Monospaced Font
Show Text Part by Default
Show All Mail Headers

Message: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Topic: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Author: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]

Print Reply
Subject:
Re: Overmind or Group MInd of a Colony
From:
Joel Govostes <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Discussion of Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Mon, 9 Dec 1996 19:02:00 -0500
Content-Type:
text/plain
Parts/Attachments:
text/plain (37 lines)
><snip>... it is this
>detailed working of the consensual mind that is the curious feature I am
>interested in.
>
>Any comments??
>
>David Warr
>Warrington
>Cheshire
>England
 
This is one of the most wonderfully intriguing aspects of a honey bee
colony, for sure.  Just how DO they "decide"?  How do they make decisions
like:  when to replace their queen by supersedure, whether or not to make
swarm preparations, which nectar sources to exploit, and other things like
selecting a home-site?  Somehow they select from numerous possibilities,
and it ends up unanimous.
 
What is of further fascination is that a colony is made up of several
sub-colonies. That is, the queen can mate with a number of drones.  So you
end up with many sub-colonies, each composed of sisters from a common
drone-father.
Yet, the colony still works together.
 
It's interesting to notice the differences in genetic expression as regards
appearance -- abdominal markings and colors can vary widely within a single
colony.
 
Then, too, if a colony barely survives a bad winter, who knows? it might be
just sisters of certain of the sub-colonies which actually survive, thanks
to some desirable combination of genes which they posess.
 
 
Would anyone care to comment on or explain the "colony mind," or for that
matter, colony "morale?"  Is there evidence of an "overlord" caste of
workers, for instance?

ATOM RSS1 RSS2

COMMUNITY.LSOFT.COM CataList Email List Search Powered by LISTSERV