>> I am intrigued by the idea of bees recognizing the beekeeper, as Bob
>> suggests.  Can someone point me to research that has shown this ?

Here is a story of bees recognizing their owner, 
as well as having a wonderful sense of humor.

Marble Rock Journal
Thursday, July 14, 1904 Marble Rock, Iowa

Wise Bees Turned Joke.

No Man Can Tell Why They Did It.
But They Let Mr. Know-It-All Escape.

Out in Colorado lives a man who takes
great delight in the culture of honey
bees, and this man owns a great number
of hives of the little winged busybodies
who so industriously make use of
the long, bright summer days in carrying
home the nectar which nature stores
for them, in the hearts of the posies.

Among the hives, however, this Colorado
man discovered one, not long ago,
which contained a very unruly settlement.
Every inhabitant of the particular
hive was a rebel, doing his part toward
baffling all efforts to remove any
portion of the hard-earned goodies; and
many a sting was inflicted before the
owner finally gave up the job as a bad
one, leaving the bees to devour their
stores in peace.

It happened the other day that neighbor
called.  This neighbor was one of
those well-meaning men who think they
know just a little more about everything
than does anybody else. Different subjects
were discussed, and at last that of
bees came up. The neighbor knew all
about bees, he said. If there was anything 
in the world of which he had a
great store of knowledge it was bees.

The chance at once to take the conceit
out of his neighbor and play a first class
joke on him was an opportune one,
the man thought; and when the prospective
victim was not looking he kicked
the unruly hive a couple of times in order
to stir up the inmates to a proper
fighting condition, after which the neighbor
was invited to make an examination
and, if possible, to remove some of
the honey.

Accordingly, with a broad grin overspreading
his face, the neighbor grasped
the hive roughly, severely shaking it,
then boldly removed the top, and, without
the slightest fear, drew forth several
combs of honey.

Myriads of angry bees immediately
swarmed in the air and—
What did they do?

Somebody surely was surprised, for
the little insects, with their stingers
ready, flew over to their owner, who
stood at what he considered a safe distance,
and soon put him on the run,
screaming with pain.

Would you believe it, not one of the
bees attacked the know-it-all man. And
during the week he was compelled to remain
indoors recovering from his many
wounds, the would-be joker had lots of
time to think it over and endeavor to
figure out why it was that only he was
attacked. He will never know, but perhaps
the bees could tell, if given the
power of speech.—Ross B. Franklin, in
Chicago Record-Herald.

Files > 17) Fun Stories - Short Bits-O-Bee-Humor 

Best Wishes,
Joe
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/HistoricalHoneybeeArticles/

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