>  It also should be noted that feeding stations are the worst-case
>  "small target" for bees.  They are unnatural and unrealistic, in that
>  there is no such thing as a single plant at a single point that can
>  be a worthwhile source of forage for a colony.

There is an example of a point source of honey: a colony that is too
weak to defend itself. Or, if one is foolish enough to leave an
uncovered honey super in the back of one's truck. It is well known
that once a weak colony is found (during a dearth) that it will be
quickly plundered. If you move this hive, the bees will hover around
its spot for several days, having "memorized" its location. Same goes
for the super in the truck. If robbers find anything in the back of
my truck, they may form a greeting committee at that spot awaiting my
return -- and further handouts -- even when the truck is not there.

Another example of a point location is when a colony is seeking a new
nest site prior to swarming. Studies have been done on the bees use
of the dance language to "persuade" their nestmates of the
superiority of one site over another. Apparently, honey bees use the
information in the dance to locate and visit the potential site, and
then return with their assessment of it. Bees have been observed to
carry out sort of a lobbying process where different factions
campaign for different sites, until a consensus is reached.

In addition to a well developed sense of distance and direction, bees
must also have a good sense of height. It is known that they do not
mate below a certain height and that they prefer to build nests high
in trees, given a choice. Finally, they are aware of the time of day.
Bees trained to feeding stations where the bait is put out at a
certain hour will learn to return at that time. (There are honey
plants that yield nectar only at certain times of day, hence the
usefulness of this ability.)

--

Peter Borst <[log in to unmask]>