Peter Borst wrote

"Lindaer reported in 1955 that 2 out of 19 swarms he was
studying broke cluster without reaching a unanimous decision and
tried to depart in two different directions.  Camazine says in 1999:
"In some way the swarm decides its time to take off." If the bee was
working entirely on instinct, the "right" nest would be found and the
colony would simply go there. In a choosing situation a consensus
must be formed."

I tried to stay out of this, feeling that bees of course are nothing but
instinctual machines.  However, this report about swarm directions
reminds me of an oft seen phenomenon in the yards:  A swarm will issue
without any clear idea of where they will first settle.  I have watched
them close in on a low, easy branch.  Then I went off to get hive parts
to set up right under the branch, but when I returned I find them
settling high up in another tree.  This early indecision as to where to
settle is very common, and I guess that it is hard to see how instinct
would have the swarm choose one site over another.  Somehow the swarm
really does seem to pick and choose and come to a common decision.
Hmmm.

Ted Fischer
Dexter, Michigan USA