Distribution Patterns of Young and Experienced Honey Bees Foraging on Alfalfa

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Abstract
Experiments were conducted in northern Utah to compare the dispersion patterns of young foragers and experienced field honey bees (Apis mellifear L.) from unaltered colonies when moved into a new area where alfalfa bloom was widespread. The exdetrimental colonies were mass marked by introducing queens from a recessive mutant strain in which parts of the body normally black were cordovan brown. Few marked bees from newly transferred colonies were recovered more than 350 yards from their hives during the 1-week observation period. This fact applied to both the young and the experienced foragers. The number of marked bees recovered at one sampling station 1 ¼ miles from the apiary was comparable to the number collected adjacent to the apiary.

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