Peter
Add chemical stress to your reasons for absconding. Sulfuric acid plant emissions, some volatiles and semi-volatiles, on an inversion day, can induce absconding - we've documented this several times at hazardous waste sites, around smelters. There are reports by others of the same around smelters, and one thesis from Pennsylvania of absconding near coal-burning power plants and other sulfur sources. In the latter, the effect was shown also in other hymenoptera, mainly vespids.
***********************************************
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