On Mon, 20 Mar 1995, Francis Ratnieks wrote:
 
> Dear Dr. Moller
>
> Concerning the numbers of foragers in bee colonies of different
> population. I think that you will find that the study you suggest has
> not been done. It is no easy matter to figure out which bees in a hive
> are foragers, without actually marking each bee as it leaves the hive.
> However, in my masters thesis some years ago I figured out the number of
> foraging trips (bees leaving hive per minute) for colonies over the
> range you indicate. Basically, the number of departures is directly
> dependent on the number of bees in the hive. Most books on beekeeping
> say smaller colonies put out less foragers proportionately, but my data
> did not confirm this. IF you are interested I can send you as copy of
> the thesis, because it was not published.
 
I'd like to add to this that the number of foragers seems to be somehow
related to the strength of the flow.
 
From using the abandonment method, I know that during the peak flow
season, virtually all the bees in the supers know their way back to the
hive when it is removed and placed elsewhere in the yard, and return home
within minutes, if not hours.
 
At other times, many do not, and will stay with the super for days
(indefinitely).
 
This does not, of course prove that all are foragers, but suggests
strongly to me that many are.
 
Allen
 
W. Allen Dick, Beekeeper                        VE6CFK
Rural Route One   Swalwell   Alberta   Canada  T0M 1Y0
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