PLB> Apparently, selection for avoidance of potential sources of diseases and parasites did not occur, suggesting that parasites and diseases have not been important selective agents in the natural history of honey bees.

> How can one make that statement??  While its true the occasional bee does dumb stuff and dies, they don't as a rule forage in things that are harmful. How many parasites and dieses have they overcome that we know nothing about??  That statement seems to be quite a reach to me.

The statement refers to avoidance of potential sources of disease, such as dead and dying hives. Honey bees do not avoid robbing out dead and dying hives, that is the central point. It isn't about toxic nectar, which they also usually don't have the sense to avoid, nor do they avoid crops drenched with pesticides. 

By the way, you make it seem as if I was saying this, when in fact it was from a paper co-authored by Rob Page, "One of the foremost honey bee geneticists in the world and a Foundation Chair of Life Sciences and Provost of Arizona State University, author of more than 230 research papers and articles." If Rob Page thinks it's true, probably good idea to listen. 

PLB

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