On Aug 12, 2005, at 1:24 PM, George Fielder asked:


> Has anyone else noticed this half day production?  It is hard to
> notice or
> prove (for my non-scientific observations anyhow), since the bees will
> keep on
> hunting for nectar in the buckwheat for a long time after I believe
> they are
> not finding any for they seem to be getting irate.  Like a rainy day
> causes.


Yes, in our (now 18 year study) on Santa Cruz Island, honey bees always
ceased visiting Santa Cruz Island buckwheat at midday.  The native bees
continued to visit the plant from thereon.  We suspected the difference
between the bees to be due to a difference in tongue length.  European
honey bees would not have co-evolved with island buckwheat.

                                                                                Adrian




Adrian M. Wenner                (805) 963-8508 (home office phone)
967 Garcia Road                 [log in to unmask]
Santa Barbara, CA  93103        www.beesource.com/pov/wenner/index.htm

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* "...the intensity of the conviction that a hypothesis is true has
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