Add another thing to my thoughts. We do have yearly, observable disappearing of bees from the hive. We call it swarming. We have a large group that leaves and are left with queen, brood and bees. The thing of interest here is we are left with bees. I am sure an entomologist out there will answer this, but what signal is there to those who leave to go and to those who stay to stay? Since a colony can cast off multiple swarms, is it only the field bees, and if so why multiple swarms and that they all do not leave with the first one? Bill Truesdell Bath, Maine **************************************************** * General Information About BEE-L is available at: * * http://www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/default.htm * ****************************************************