At 09:59 AM 3/2/2006, you wrote:

We were long into this work when I got a call from S. Africa about 
occupancy by swarms in dynamite boxes.  Whether this was due to empty boxes 
making convenient homes, or to swarms exiting from parent colonies in such 
boxes, and as such more or less conditioned to the odor of explosives is 
unknown.

Actually, the DoD person who first contacted me was thinking of other 
uses.  In the process of putting together a team, the explosive group at 
Sandia labs, namely Susan F. Bender and Phil Rodacy contacted us, suggested 
explosives and landmines.

Which, is the rest of the story.

Jerry


>Hi Ruth
>
> > Do you know where and how scientists first got the idea to try
> > and train honeybees, instead of dogs, to sniff explosives in
> > mine-fields?
>
>My information may not be correct, but I have heard several stories that 
>cite preferential occupancy by swarms, of empty dynamite boxes, in South 
>Africa as the source of the idea.
>
>
>Regards & Best 73s, Dave Cushman, G8MZY
>http://website.lineone.net/~dave.cushman or http://www.dave-cushman.net
>Short FallBack M/c, Build 6.02/3.1 (stable)
>
>-- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l for rules, FAQ and  other info ---
>

-- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l for rules, FAQ and  other info ---