>"Dysentery" is a beekeeper's term for the voiding of visibly large
>quantities of faeces by bees not in fl ight; such defaecation occurs when the
>weight of the rectal contents exceeds about 40 per cent of the total body
>weight. Excess water in food or prolonged confinement is a common
>cause.

It has seemed to me that yellow spots on cars and clotheslines notwithstanding, that bee feces is more normally solid or near-solid, at least in summer.  Am I wrong?  I'm surprised to discover I really do not know.

Since bees AFAIK lack a method of eliminating liquids separately from solids, other than by regurgitation or respiration, it stands to reason that the consistency of the feces would reflect the water balance in any feed metbolised under normal circumstances with healthy bees.  How much control a healthy bee has over water elimination or retention is an interesting question.

In the case of damage to the digestive system or osmotic imbalances due to unsuitable feed, I can understand how the feces could be affected.  If liquids are being lost in the feces which would be held back in a healthy bee, does this imply dehydration could take place as it may with dysentary in other animals?

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