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Subject:
From:
"Robert A. Roach" <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Discussion of Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Mon, 19 May 1997 10:12:28 -0700
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I was watching some curious bee behavior and I wondered in anyone might explain it.  There were some ants walking around on the side of the hive near the entrance.  They are small black ants, Argentine ants I believe.  The hive is a vigorous swarm hived 10 days before.  One of the guard bees would occasionally walk around the side of the entrance and when she met an ant she would buzz her wings for about a second while turning around 180 degrees and presenting her butt end to the ant.  Then both ant and bee would continue making their rounds.  When they met again, the same thing would happen.  This was repeated many times.  Is the ant irritating to the bee?  Was the bee making some sort of display?  Do bees bite ants trying to enter the hive?
 
Bob Roach

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