> After correcting for distance, dances demonstrate that honeybees possess a significant preference for rural land managed under UK Higher Level AESs and a significant preference against rural land under UK Organic Entry Level AESs. Additionally, the two most visited areas contained a National and Local Nature Reserve, respectively. Our study demonstrates that honeybees, with their great foraging range and sensitive response to forage quality, can be used as bioindicators to monitor large areas and provide information relevant to better environmental management.

I thought it interesting although it has not yet been replicated in areas other than those surrounding the University.

Given that so much money is now being poured into promoting urban beekeeping (goodness knows why - not too many fields of crops in the centre of London or Manchester!) I had to smile at the finding that bees preferred rural areas.  Is this because they prefer to avoid urban traffic pollution?  If so, why are we (UK) planning to spend money making motorway verges and embankments attractive to wildlife?  And will the insects that they attract end up splattered on windscreens?

Best wishes

Peter 
52°14'44.44"N, 1°50'35"W

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