excerpts from:
MYSTERIOUS BEE-HAVIOR
www.sciencemag.org

> Entomologist Diana Cox-Foster of Pennsylvania State University in State
College thinks a toxin may be implicated, because wax-worms and neighboring
bees are not invading deserted hives.

> Researchers are also looking at bee genes to see whether Cape honeybees
from Africa may have infiltrated U.S. populations. Cape females produce
their own young rather than tending to the queen's brood, causing the social
structure to collapse.

[ I have never noticed that honey bees avoid toxins,-- or other dangers, for
that matter. I have seen them fly into vats of hot wax and honey, electric
fans, etc. They enter diseased hives, rob contaminated honey, and forage on
sprayed fields. The notion that they are not robbing the CCD hives because
of some pathogen inside make little sense in this light. I suppose the lack
of robbing is more likely due to the weakened condition of the whole apiary
and the general lack of older bees.  The Cape Bee scenario seems rather
far-fetched,-- but what do I know? ]


-- 
pb

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