As an experiment, I put a small sugar syrup feeder on a bucket in my garden the other day when it was warm and sunny out to see if any bees would come by for a drink. After about an hour I noticed one come by, fill up her stomach and fly off dead west. Soon after, a few more came by for a drink, and all flew off in the same direction. The local bee club has an apiary map, and I didn't see any in that direction within 2 miles. So my question is this: Do the bees go in a straight line home when they are full, or do they make turns based on landmarks? I'm definitely putting up a swarm trap in a tree behind the garden in case it's a wild colony and runs the possibility of swarming in the spring, but just for fun I might try tracking them on another nice day and see where they live.
Yes, it's called a beeline, seen my grandpa would sprinkle flour on bees (getting a drink) while we were fishing on gravelbars. He would then watch which way they flew off and follow them to find their hive. That is if the fish wasn't biting. :-D Jack
For practical purposes, yes. They may vary a little because of wind currents.
Quote from: cinch123 on March 02, 2012, 04:17:15 PM
do they make turns based on landmarks?
If bee are full they will fly straight home. Bee fly to the angle of the sun to the earth.
BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)
They can fool you so you need to watch closely and have your good eyes on! Often they will spiral up to above the tree line before flying straight home.
Scott
Quote from: hardwood on March 03, 2012, 03:38:19 PM
They can fool you so you need to watch closely and have your good eyes on! Often they will spiral up to above the tree line before flying straight home.
Scott
This is what I believe to be the simplest, yet most complete answer. Watch for the end of the spiral.