Volume 1 -------------------- December 28, 2010 --------------------Number 4
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The Elite & Mysterious Scout Bees
by David Burns, EAS certified Master Beekeeper
In order for a colony of honey bees to thrive, gather resources and reproduce into another colony it depends
largely on a prestigious and elite group of bees known as scout bees. Scout bees are the CIA of the hive, the
eyes in the sky, hour by hour flying reconnaissance missions gathering essential information ensuring the hive's
survival. These daring scouts are constantly searching, gathering information and returning to the hive to
communicate their findings. The colony takes the scouts' information and determines what to do next.
5% - 35% of the foragers will serve as scouts at some time during their foraging days. When a scout discovers a
new, abundant resource, they gather samples of nectar and pollen or water and race back to the hive to perform
a dance. Eager foragers study closely the details of the dance to gain the specific coordinates, scent and taste
of the nectar. Scouts are the first to leave the hive in the morning to begin their exploratory missions. Scouts are
always investigating but more so during a dearth period.
Several days prior to a colony producing a swarm, scouts are sent out in search of a new nesting location. They
measure the inside and outside of the potential new home. Once a colony has produced a swarm, the scouts begin
to compete for a final decision through an extensive democratic process. This begins once a swarm has clustered on a nearby tree. At times, a swarm might
take their second flight to a location that has not yet been determined. Perhaps it has been narrowed down between two places, but scouts still may promote
their individual location as the best, even during flight.
Scouts are noticeably different in their flights. It is obvious when you spot a scout. She hovers around you, as if she is sniffing, looking for something she
cannot find. On the other hand, a forager flies straight to her location, gathers nectar and pollen and makes a bee line back to the hive. If it wasn't for our
scout bees, the hive wouldn't know what's out there.
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IN THE NEWS...
Bayer's Clothianidin Is A Major Discussion At Beekeeping Conferences
Most of us as beekeepers attend several large beekeeping conferences a year, where honey bee scientist and university's best entomologist share new
discoveries about honey bees. At this year's conferences top entomologist are sharing their concerns over clothianidin, a pesticide by Bayer that is
used on most major crops in the US. A document was leaked out of the EPA suggesting that the EPA's study ws not sufficient to declare the pesticide safe for bees.
Now the EPA released a statement saying that the National Honey Bee Advisory Board is producing erroneous statements. Read the whole story....
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