Swarm Orientation in Honeybees

@article{Morse1963SwarmOI,
  title={Swarm Orientation in Honeybees},
  author={Roger A. Morse},
  journal={Science},
  year={1963},
  volume={141},
  pages={357 - 358}
}
  • R. Morse
  • Published 26 July 1963
  • Art
  • Science
A swarm of honeybees will move up to 75 m (250 feet) without its queen but only for 3 to 8 minutes. The swarm is aware of the presence of its queen, but the queen does not lead the swarm from one location to another. Bees return to a queen which cannot follow the swarm in flight and in fact are capable of finding a queen "lost along the way." The source of the odoriferous substance(s) responsible for a swarm's detection of its queen appears to be glands in her head. 
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36 Citations
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References

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for the use of the excellent facilities and his assistance; and Dr. W. L. Brown, Cornell, for his comments on the manuscript

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