>We do see bees gathering minerals from dung heaps and such, but they do not
take a great deal of such material.

One study of this, if I recall correctly, found that bees were attracted to
the salt-free extract of the dung, rather than the salt itself.

A number of insects do seek animal waste (I'm using my words carefully) in
order to gain sodium, which is largely lacking in a herbivorous diet (the
main salts being potassium salts).  Similarly to the way in which mammals
seek salt licks to improve the sodium to potassium imbalance in an
herbivorous diet.

Randy Oliver

             ***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software.  For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html

Access BEE-L directly at:
http://community.lsoft.com/scripts/wa-LSOFTDONATIONS.exe?A0=BEE-L