Sorry if this is old news.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/09/honey-bee-personality-genetics_n_1335110.html?ref=science (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/09/honey-bee-personality-genetics_n_1335110.html?ref=science)
Very interesting. It's probably only the tip of the iceberg.
One of the reasons; why a queen mates with numerous drones, to moderate the amount of thrill seekers?
It is obvious that different tasks in the hive call for different specialists. But I don't think we need to make much of this. Anthopomorphism not required.
They drugged the bees. I am thinking of all the new possibilities for big pharma: Cialis for older drones, Cymbalta for insecure foragers, Lunesta for Mr Russell's Moonbeams.
>>Anthopomorphism not required.
Sorry, what would you prefer? Gobildygook deficient Apis melifera?
Why wouldn't an allele control whether or not a honeybee is a forager or a scout?
(sorry more ANTHROPOMORPHISM)
Quote from: Vance G on March 11, 2012, 03:35:52 PM
It is obvious that different tasks in the hive call for different specialists. But I don't think we need to make much of this. Anthopomorphism not required.
"Anthropomorphism" - the ultimate Beek put down and excuse for not looking deeper into the behavioural complexity of Apis Mellifera...
next up "Bee keepers don't need to know this".