"If they are only a mile +/- a bit from their hive they can be home in two or three minutes."

I agree, the bees do not need much time to return to the colony.

Would it not depend on whether or not they are in "search" or "active grocery collection" mode?

I might be wrong, but the foragers who know what to get and where to get it waste no time leaving or returning to the hive at a speed of 18-22 mph (28 to 35 km/h).  They appear to be on a zip line to/from the hive.  They want to return as fast as possible, dump their groceries and return to their nectar/pollen/plant resin/water source.

If they are in "search" mode, they appear to fly much slower looking for a nectar/pollen/plant resin/water source and fly at 5 to 10 mph (8 to 16 km/h) and appear to just mosey on their way out (and on their way back if they have not found anything). 

So if the bees are 3 miles out and are returning at full speed (say 20 mph)  to the colony packing a load of groceries, it would take 9 or 10 minutes.

Steve
Central Illinois

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