> Sorry to hear you think it is maybe bizarre for a new bee to be discovered
> living and thriving in of all places in South America or even in North
> America. Science is even in these modern times still finding new animals,
> fish and insects in our oceans and on land.

There are lumpers and there are splitters.  I find this here in Australia in
botany where a "new" species of Eucalypt is discovered.  Most times it is a
splitter wanting to split up a species because something is seen under an
SEM (scanning electron microscope) that is slightly different.  I believe it
is just different provences.  The same could easily occur with honey bees
where a slight difference is seen to be a new species.  I suppose it
justifies a job.  I think Murray is on the ball with his observations.

> Linden/Lime/Basswood can produce (or not re-absorb) nectar at night.  Are
> there any other plants that do that?

Yes, research has found that here in Australia a lot of our Eucalypts start
secreting at night.  This then puts paid to the argument that our honeybees
are stealing the nectar from the bats and sugar gliders (nocturnal animals).
In fact they have first go at the new secretions.  However, don't expect to
hear this from the greenies as it does not suit their cause.

Trevor Weatherhead
AUSTRALIA
Coming to Apimondia in Australia in 2007?

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