MandF
Drone Bee
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2009
- Messages
- 1,207
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- London, UK
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 2
I thought this would be a useful and interesting discussion to have.
There has been mention lots of times, by numerous members, of bees doing something or another, which suggests that they must be doing this in their own best interest. The classic example is putting mesh over a feed hole = bees will propolise it = bees do not "want" that space = we should cover the feed hole.
Now, I think there is a little too much anthropomorphism going on here, that we are granting too much intelligence to an insect (albeit fascinating).
My take on this is that insects are very simple animals, which act on simple stimuli, but can demonstrate fascinating behaviours as a result. It is tempting to assume they "think", but insects are not sentient, they are akin to complex computer programs, and/or, on/off, if/then.
They also make some catastrophic decisions, which will end up killing the colony. An example is that they will not seek to raise a new queen when there is a hive of laying workers, whatever trigger exists for them to raise a new queen is not there in such a hive.
We also know that most "decisions" in a hive are triggered by pheramones.
So, could it be that their decision to propolise mesh across a feed hole is based on a simple rule "if a gap < Xmm, seal it"? No "thinking" as to why they are doing it, or the consequences? This would explain why they also propolise frame lugs and every other tiny gap.
Could it be that they notice a drift of pheramones out of that area, therefore choose to seal it?
It could be that they notice heat loss, or a draught, or light, and it could also be, in this case, it *is* in the hives best interest, but I am interested what others think about this general idea of justifying beekeeping decisions based upon the bees natural instincts, which we do no necessarily understand, which are based on stimuli, not "thought" and sometimes which are not necessarily in their own best interests at all.
As I said, I am not trying to open up the feed hole debate, just using that as an example of our habit of ascribing sentient thought on an insect or superorganism (the colony as a whole).
There has been mention lots of times, by numerous members, of bees doing something or another, which suggests that they must be doing this in their own best interest. The classic example is putting mesh over a feed hole = bees will propolise it = bees do not "want" that space = we should cover the feed hole.
Now, I think there is a little too much anthropomorphism going on here, that we are granting too much intelligence to an insect (albeit fascinating).
My take on this is that insects are very simple animals, which act on simple stimuli, but can demonstrate fascinating behaviours as a result. It is tempting to assume they "think", but insects are not sentient, they are akin to complex computer programs, and/or, on/off, if/then.
They also make some catastrophic decisions, which will end up killing the colony. An example is that they will not seek to raise a new queen when there is a hive of laying workers, whatever trigger exists for them to raise a new queen is not there in such a hive.
We also know that most "decisions" in a hive are triggered by pheramones.
So, could it be that their decision to propolise mesh across a feed hole is based on a simple rule "if a gap < Xmm, seal it"? No "thinking" as to why they are doing it, or the consequences? This would explain why they also propolise frame lugs and every other tiny gap.
Could it be that they notice a drift of pheramones out of that area, therefore choose to seal it?
It could be that they notice heat loss, or a draught, or light, and it could also be, in this case, it *is* in the hives best interest, but I am interested what others think about this general idea of justifying beekeeping decisions based upon the bees natural instincts, which we do no necessarily understand, which are based on stimuli, not "thought" and sometimes which are not necessarily in their own best interests at all.
As I said, I am not trying to open up the feed hole debate, just using that as an example of our habit of ascribing sentient thought on an insect or superorganism (the colony as a whole).