>I caught a swarm a couple weeks ago and started feeding it syrup with a >division board feeder. They were taking the syrup real fast and making >nice white comb just like a swarm. > >When I went to fill the feeder again there were many bees at the bottom of >the feeder licking the remaining syrup up. I poured the syrup on top of >them expecting them to float or crawl to the top. Most of them did just >that. > >Ispent at least 2 minutes looking for eggs etc., and before closing the >hive looked in the feeder. There were still some bees crawling on the >screened sides of the feeder fully submerged walking up and down the >screen in a very undistressed manner. > >Can a bee hold its breath? Or had an air bubble formed over each spiracle? >How did they do that? > >Eventually they came to the top and went about their business. > >Ann Dougherty >Kirkland, WA. usa > Hi Ann, Bees are an insect or in scientific terms an invertebrate, their breathing system is similar to a crabs. As you are aware a crab can stay under water and sand. Therefore bees can for a time also stay under water, but eventually their internal food supply is affected and they die. ( So yes they can scuba dive). Thanks from : [log in to unmask] http://www.eastend.com.au/~goble [log in to unmask] ( David Goble ) American Beach Kangaroo Island South Australia