This honeybee committed suicide by crawling into the river.

We saw her on the ground heading toward the water. She didn't fly, and looked like she was crawling with difficulty. We watched as she struggled over the gravel toward the edge of the river -- it seemed odd, but we thought perhaps she wanted a drink. But she went slowly but unerringly toward the water's edge and continued into deep water without hesitation. We moved her back onto the gravel, and she promptly started for the water again, entered the river, and drowned. It was definitely purposeful. Bees don't swim, and we don't know what to make of this bizarre behavior. (I wonder if could have any connection with colony collapse disorder?)

7-23-07

This honeybee committed suicide by crawling into the river.

We saw her on the ground heading toward the water. She didn't fly, and looked like she was crawling with difficulty. We watched as she struggled over the gravel toward the edge of the river -- it seemed odd, but we thought perhaps she wanted a drink. But she went slowly but unerringly toward the water's edge and continued into deep water without hesitation. We moved her back onto the gravel, and she promptly started for the water again, entered the river, and drowned. It was definitely purposeful. Bees don't swim, and we don't know what to make of this bizarre behavior. (I wonder if could have any connection with colony collapse disorder?)

7-23-07