Actually I have no idea. I know there wasn't a storm the days I saw
these bees (two different locations). I don't know how far away their
hives were or where - if the hives were moved or not (though it seems an
unlikely coincidence for these two locations simultaneously).
So far the consensus seems to be, from the responses I am getting on
this inquiry, that this behavior is a side effect of the bees being
parasitized by phorids. I haven't caught one to check yet, but I might
do that soon.
Have you witnessed much parasitism in your bees?
Aaron T. Dossey, Ph.D.
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
On 5/31/2011 1:07 AM, Martin Meiss wrote:
In my experience as a beekeeper, I can't remember having seen bees
flying after dark, but I can imagine one circumstance in which they
might. If for some reason they can't find their way back to the hive
(they get caught in bad weather and have to take shelter till after
sundown, they get blown off course, the beekeeper moves the hive,
etc.), and if by chance they happen to find themselves near an
artificial light, they may head for it in a state of navigational
confusion. Might some such situation apply in the cases you observed?
Martin M. Meiss
2011/5/29 Aaron T. Dossey <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>>
This year for the first time I have noticed several honeybees
flying at lights at night just like scarabs or the hundreds of
other insects that are attracted to them. I first saw several
honeybees running at the rather dim light on the side of the USDA
greenhouse here in Gainesville, FL almost every night I have gone
to check on my plants and psyllids. The other experience I had
recently has been several of the nights I have gone down to the
gas station at Micanopy to find scarabs and moths for a couple of
other projects I have going. At that location, there was just one
bee but it was very aggressively flying at the wall over and over
again - falling down, and then flying back at the wall. A couple
of times when I approached the wall to photograph a moth, the bee
seemed to come after me - but I made a quick enough escape so I am
not sure. Actually, a few nights ago it did land on my thumb (the
thumb having not been near the wall at the time, about 3 feet
away) and appeared interested in stinging, but again I evaded attack.
Has anyone seen this kind of behavior in honeybees? Is this
something that's increased over time, as I have been going to a
LOT of lights for insects at night for many years (for almost 10
years here in the Gainesville area, including the Micanopy light)
but have never seen a single honeybee at one until this year.
--
Aaron T. Dossey, Ph.D.
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
