Bee 'Personalities' Seen In New Study

[Sundog]

Sorry if this is old news.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/09/honey-bee-personality-genetics_n_1335110.html?ref=science

[SEEYA]

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?

[Vance G]

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. 

[stewroten]

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. 

[SEEYA]

>>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) 

[derekm]

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".