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Subject:
From:
"J. Waggle" <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sat, 14 May 2011 23:43:34 -0400
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There are a few historical accounts 
of bees orientating to a moving 
Location.

In your opinion,,,
Is it possible for bees to do this?

I'm inclined to believe bees can 
do this, provided the movement is at a 
measured pace, and slow enough.

There is an account of bees anticipating
the new location of a moving 'feeding station'
being moved at measured intervals, this would 
be cool to see, if anyone has this manuscript. 

The first article relating to bees orientating
to a moving location is said to have originally
appeared in the London Times in 1830. 

... As a small vessel was proceeding up the
channel from the coast of Cornwall and
running near the land, some of the sailors
observed a swarm of bees on an island; they
steered for it, landed, and took the bees on
board; succeeded in hiving them immediately,
and proceeded on their voyage; as they sailed
along the shore, the bees constantly flew from
the vessel to the land, to collect honey, and
returned again to their moving hive; and this
was continued all the way up the channel.
—Western Rural.

Another is dated to 1927

....A liner, the
Tintagel Castle, left Cape Town some
years ago, on her way to England, and
when well out at sea it was found that
a swarm of bees had hidden in the
cargo. These rose and settled on a
ventilator and one of the handy men
fixed up a rough hive in which the
swarm took up their abode.

A week later, early one morning, the
swarm left the hive, rose into the air
and winged their way to the east. At
the time the steamer was passing the
Cape Verde Islands, but these were
not within sight when the bees left
the steamer. Yet in some mysterious
way the insects knew that land was
within flying distance....

Best Wishes,
Joe Waggle
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/HistoricalHoneybeeArticles/

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