Peter,
    I always found Apis to be poor judges of character. Others have
talked about perspiration as the key component for honey bees
targeting certain bee keepers. I know from experience that many native
bees regard sweaty humans, as warm, giant salt licks. Perhaps honey
bees become trapped under clothing as they check out people as well.
Undoubtably, the presence of a large sweaty mammmal would alert hive
bees of impending danger. Sounds logical..
                                                        Blair
 
P.S.  Peter, I enjoyed your paper on native and honey bee pollination
(1991, I believe).
 
                            "BEES OR BUST"
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                  ____________________________________
                  BLAIR SAMPSON
                  Dept. of Biology
                  Acadia University
                  Wolfville, N.S.
                  BOP 1XO, Canada
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