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Subject:
From:
Lloyd Spear <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lloyd Spear <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Thu, 23 Jun 2005 07:41:41 -0400
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I admit ignorance of whether queen pheremone is transmitted by
footprint, but I KNOW that some queen pheremone is airborne!  I
regularly create an artificial swarm by caging a queen with 5-10
pounds of bees, keeping them together overnight, and then hanging the
queen cage in a shrub 50-100 feet upwind of the bees.

In an hour or so virtually all the bees will have left the box and
will be surrounding the queen in an 'artificial swarm'.  I then use
this backdrop to teach kids (and accompanying adults) about the
reproductive aspects of swarms and especially to show them how gentle
are the bees in a swarm.

I start by showing how I can put my hand inside the swarm, cup it
gently, and pull it away with a handful of bees (and no stings).  I
then invite the kids to try.  Almost invaribly the 'first' is a girl,
quickly followed by more girls and boys.  Last are the parents!
(Showing that fear of bees is an aquired trait?)

So, some queen substance is clearly transmitted by air.  A wonder of
nature can be observed by standing at the queen cage site and watching
the bees track the scent.  They fly back and forth along the axis
between the cage and the bee location.  It seems obvious that they are
sensing a weakening and strengthing of the scent and keeping
themselves aligned with the goal.

Lloyd

--
Lloyd Spear
Owner Ross Rounds, Inc.
Manufacture of equipment for round comb honey sections,
Sundance Pollen Traps, and producer of Sundance custom labels.
Contact your dealer or www.RossRounds.com

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