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:
Bees attacking wristwatches
From:
Mark Hoguet <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sat, 13 Jul 2002 02:20:49 -0400
Content-Type:
text/plain
Parts/Attachments:
text/plain (21 lines)
A quick postscript to my last post. Would bees be as likely or less
likely to attack a wristwatch that is NOT working? While my eyelash
theory is a bit fanciful, the mammalian eye does move. The eye rotates in
its socket, the pupil dilates and constricts, and the eyelids move back
and forth over the eye's surface. Tear ducts produce fluid similar to
sweat. However, an eye doesn't tick, whir, or vibrate. Some watches do.
Could the bees be attracted to the aqueous, eyelike qualities of a watch
face, but be sufficiently puzzled by the sound of the watch's mechanism
to see it as a threat? Do they confuse the whir and hum of the watch with
the buzz of a predatory insect? One wind up toy attacking another! Some
eyeglasses appear to magnify the human eye when you look at the person
who is wearing them. This might explain why bees appear to be attracted
to eyeglasses. It makes a lot of sense for an angry bee to try to sting a
mammal in the eyes. With two well-placed stings, two tiny insects can
blind a creature a hundred times their size, making it almost impossible
for it to rob their hive. There are many experiments that the amateur
(and professional) scientist could do on this subject without spending a
great deal of money.

Mark

ATOM RSS1 RSS2

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