It is so easy to anthropomorphize honey bee behaviors.

For example, folk often speak of a bee "defending" their colony, such as a
human soldier would do, understanding the threat to his/her tribe, and
knowing the potential risk of death involved to him/herself.

I know of no evidence that a guard or soldier bee has any such  awareness
of threat, the concept of colony, or potential risk to self (death due to
stinging).  On the contrary, their stinging can be explained by simple
hard-wired responses to cues that trigger certain behaviors.  No awareness
of colony, threat, defense, or self risk in required.

-- 
Randy Oliver
Grass Valley, CA
www.ScientificBeekeeping.com

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