Hello Randy & All,
I enjoyed your article but think you need to add a bit more about the
*possible* connection between pesticides and the bees immune system.

From page 968:
"First,foragers that become ill after tanking up on toxic nectar (or
pesticides) simply don't return to the hive"

The wording is correct but those of us involved with pesticide issues know
there are TWO types of issues.
1. the bees die in the field

2. the bees return to the hive and can bring low levels of pesticides into
the hive and into the honey stored.

Another possible hypothesis other than the one you presented about all the
bee checkpoints being for bee health is that the bees have found the
transfer of nectar works best when passed from worker to worker (similar to
a bucket brigade when fighting a fire)

I wished you would have said a bit more other than only one sentence about
the bees placing  pollen directly in the brood nest.

from page 968:
"Pollen foragers ,on the other hand ,do directly deposit their loads at the
periphery of the brood nest"

In my opinion the transfer of low levels of pesticides into the hive can
take place in nectar and in pollen.
Maybe for the first time in their history bees hive protection mechanisms
(protected the bees for eons) are being over loaded with the new class of 
pesticides ( neonicotinoids?).

Many hypothesis being published but the bees are still dying *with* weakened
immune systems. The possible hypothesis that pesticides are weakening the
bees immune system has never been fully discounted.

Good article!

bob

Only my 2 cents worth.

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