* Environment * Bees Bees' tiny brains beat computers, study finds

[Hivemaker.]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/oct/24/bees-route-finding-problems

 

[Queens59]

Hee hee - I knew it...my bees are cleverer than me! Maths was never my strong point...questions like how to get from A-B in the quickest time etc made me run for the hills!

 

[Skyhook]

...questions like how to get from A-B in the quickest time etc made me run for the hills!

Though presumably by a fairly inefficient route

 

[Queens59]

Though presumably by a fairly inefficient route

I could get lost in a paper bag...

 

[Polyanwood]

Thanks for posting HM

 

[Monsieur Abeille]

Harness the power in an organic SatNav. Perfect except for a few "slow down by this field of clover" instructions, or "I'm not going out in this weather"

 

[Finman]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/oct/24/bees-route-finding-problems

I would say that that writer's brains are not at the level of honeybee.

At least computer makes in few seconds the route where honeybee spends 30 minutes.

A honeybee is a stupid animal. When it has 20 hectares rape, it goes to nearest flower even if other bees have suck it empty. It does not know that on opposite edge of the flower fiels are full of nectar and it would get quickly the full load there.

Beekeeper is more stupid. Even if he knows what the bee does, BK put all hives in one site.

.

 

[gavin]

That isn't right. When competition for the available nectar is high, bees will travel. For example spring-sown rape around here is only available here and there. Bees will often fly quite far into field and maximise the efficiency of foraging that way. Winter (autumn sown) rape around here is a superabundant resource when it comes. Bees usually land near the edge of the field as there is no need for them to fly further.

G.

 

[oliver90owner]

Yes they may, but it is a well published fact that fields near forests have much better yield within (and I'm not sure which figure is oft quoted) about half a kilometre from the edge (it may be 1 km)of the forest. I am referring here to coffee crops in equatorial areas where these trends have been noted. Field beans in the UK may well be an example. OSR would not as it is reputedly 90% wind pollinated (when grown as a mono-crop, presumably)

The waggle dance from a particular bee will include a distance component, but whether any pattern as to increasing distance is useful is debatable. The flowers will secrete nectar over a period of a few days, so those visited yesterday may be a worth a visit tomorrow. Studying yields may lead to a conclusion that bees only fly as far as necessary (true) or perhaps that the nearest flowers are visited on multiple occasions. No real way to know, unless each are videod over a long period. That may not help the growers who already know the resulting yields of their crops.

Regards, RAB

 

[hellnwheels]

Looks like it's bee week in the Guardian. Has anyone else seen this from Mr Bispham in today's issue?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2010/oct/27/pyramids-stonehenge-honeybee

Helen

 

[MJBee]

Yep

 

[BKF Admin]

Did someone say Bispham !!!!


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