Aaron Morris wrote:
 
> Matthew <[log in to unmask]> asked,
> > Does anyone know how long bees can retain information?
>
> This is a good question!  I don't remember which conference it was where
> I heard what researched talk about his latest work where he was trying
> to figure out how to get bees to FORGET!  Background is that bees
> imprint on a certain flower, say clover for instance.
 
I used to work on projects like that - one problem, of course, is that the
honey retains and reinforces the aroma cues, and in alfalfa, the fossal
pollen plug stays under the tongue for several days.
   - John Edwards, USDA-ARS, Tucson