Do bees play?

NasalSponge · March 15, 2011, 09:44:40 PM

QuoteAnother form of play is the head to head dance

I thought you where going to say when they bump heads with ME. :-D

bee-nuts · March 16, 2011, 03:45:31 AM

There is a passage supposedly written by Sherlock Holmes claiming that bees like to play...... that they "throw themselves into the air with no purpose but joy"

Was he smoking opium and doing lines of coke when he wrote that passage? I bet he did see the bees playing as they would fly circles around the hive for no reason and land again. He probably put some opiates in his smoker so the bees could really enjoy their play flights.

FRAMEshift · March 16, 2011, 09:49:34 AM

Quote from: bee-nuts on March 16, 2011, 03:45:31 AM
I bet he did see the bees playing as they would fly circles around the hive for no reason and land again.

I find your sig to be quite pertinent. :-D The moment a person forms a theory, his imagination sees in every object only the traits which favor that theory

It's easy to see what we are looking for. But I think the complexity of hive organization raises the possibility that bee behavior at the colony level could be more than meets the eye.

T Beek · March 16, 2011, 10:29:55 AM

Of course bees play, anyone observing for even short periods would/should notice playful (like) behavior.

Not to sure about all the political 'assumptions' being thrown around though. I've known dems, reps, indies and even a few Marxists and fascists who all worked themselves to death while in pursuit of their various causes.

Working hard has no political monopoly and for someone to state so with such conviction is just inciting an unworthy and meanspirited debate, shows clear signs of immaturity and doesn't belong here on a "beekeeping" forum.

(do you wanna know the "real" reason some beeks (new and old) are turned off by this forum and go elsewhere?)

"Beekeeping threads that deteriorate into rude political jabs and personal "OPINIONS."

Please save it for your elected officials and/or the COFFEE HOUSE.

thomas

PS; you all know, Holmes was fictional, right?

Acebird · March 16, 2011, 10:56:47 AM

Quote"Beekeeping threads that deteriorate into rude political jabs and personal "OPINIONS."

Not for nothing Tom, that is a personal opinion. If you eliminate all personal opinions from a forum you stop it dead. It will cease to exist. I will try to keep my political jabs to myself in the future but when someone takes a stab and leave themself wide open it is hard to resist. I personally don't believe there is any difference between the political parties but I thought my comment was a good comeback.

Look real hard, the bees are telling us they like to play. Look at that ... ring around the rosy, a pocket full of posies ...

iddee · March 16, 2011, 11:13:28 AM

Whether bees play or not, it looks like people can't. At least and keep everybody happy. I guess I'll just have to keep my "serious professor" hat on while I am posting.

Sorry if I upset you.

FRAMEshift · March 16, 2011, 03:55:16 PM

Quote from: T Beek on March 16, 2011, 10:29:55 AM
PS; you all know, Holmes was fictional, right?

T Beek, In the Laurie King series, the premise is that the Holmes was a real person and that his original stories were written by Dr. Watson. Arthur Conan Doyle is portrayed as a shyster book publisher who constantly embarrassed Holmes. :-D The new King series was supposedly written by Holmes's wife, Mary Russel about their mutual beekeeping and detective adventures. Laurie King claims to be only the editor who received all the manuscripts for the 11 book series in a old trunk. :-D If you want some interesting reading (you probably won't have time till next winter) I can suggest these books. The beekeeping lore covers many observable bee behaviors but the explanations are from the 1920s.

T Beek · March 16, 2011, 04:01:41 PM

FRAMEshift; I am intrigued by your discription and will seek out these books. But you are right, with more sunlight I do much less reading (and writing ;). Thanks :)

thomas

bee-nuts · March 17, 2011, 06:49:06 AM

My sig is absolute truth and applies to all who read it. You may see it demonstrated on this forum daily. I catch myself stuck on the bias train track often enough. I often dont see things for what they are because I believe what I already believe to be true which is only a theory I convinced myself as fact. If anyone here thinks this does not apply to you then you are permanently stuck on a one way train to stupid.

Finski · March 17, 2011, 09:19:05 AM

.

RIGHT!

Brian D. Bray · March 17, 2011, 01:57:07 PM

Brigham Young with a Bee Beard!! I want to frame it.

luvin honey · March 17, 2011, 09:21:44 PM

Quote from: iddee on March 13, 2011, 08:17:14 PM
Bees work, so they can't be democrats. Maybe independents??

This hard-working Democrat says, Hey!!

wadehump · March 17, 2011, 09:51:50 PM

no offense taken iddee because i know that all republicians are not bad people just misguided :-D

hankdog1 · March 22, 2011, 08:16:16 PM

I guess since bees have the smarts of squirrels, elephants, and dolphins i'm sure they are capable of play. :-D
Bees spend most of thier life at rest. So busy as a bee isn't really something you want to say to someone who is working hard. lol

Flygirl · March 23, 2011, 01:36:54 AM

Great post! I love the Sherlock reference....I need to read that one! And....thanks to Finski for his posts! LOVE the video & the picture & so did my son!

BTW ~ his science project worked out great & was a big hit! He even won a ribbon so was very happy!
FG :)

ps~ I'm an independent & a hard worker...just one of the "girls!"

indypartridge · March 23, 2011, 08:30:14 AM

Quote from: Finski
Sometimes hives have played with me.

Me too. I've seen pictures of beeks working their colonies wearing shorts, so I've tried it a couple times on hot days. Same result: the bees play a game called "Make the beekeeper dance". They head straight for the back of my legs, behind my knees. I swear I can hear them laughing as I run away.