----- Original Message ----- 
From: "[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, March 05, 2007 8:17 AM
Subject: Re: [BEE-L] Odors, DL, and Spring Fever...


>>>Why should honeybee-recruits need anything more than odor?
> 
> Honey bees certainly have exceptional 'noses' but can they smell a 
> solitary stand of blooming linden a mile away, say, downwind?

Interesting though that this same point was made many years back
regarding insect identification of weak, or deficient corn stalks in
fields miles away. 
I believe that at the time it the ability of the insects to see infrared
radiation (blackbody radiation) was put forward as the likely 
solution. Imagine someone holding a four foot neon lamp in their
hands at night if you can't envision infrared detection at long ranges.

As to location of insects themselves, one theory involved wing beats
providing a modulated signal, unique to the insect. 

Just a thought.

Nowadays most such research is probably done in some black
funded lab somewhere...

Tim

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