I should add here that bees had been around for 150 million years!
(Latest research involving the last bee found, perfectly preserved in amber and if memory serves me right? It was found in California.)
Previous proven estimate was about 120 milion years.
That is longer than any creature known to inhabit this globe.
They say that they managed to stay on this earth, all this time, largely the same way as we know them how they exist today. That being so, is, because of their incredible smarts, work ethics, dedication to their collective...
By our standards they are regarded as an incredibly well thought out and proven society - collective. . .
In my country of origin, they are regarded, spoken off, on the same level as humans and they die as humans. Other animals, the word for their death is diferent than for humans and bees. English language is not nearly as colourful and rich as languages of other country's and nations.
In many a country, even to this day, they are regarded as being better than humans and harming them is punishable by death! Yes - death!
About bee smarts:
Bees are today, by scientists, classified as the smartest beings on the planet. (Man is next. Used to be first though.)
They can navigate without mechanical or electronic aid.
They poses very complex language skills.
They can foretell the weather, without help of computers or other gizmo's.
They navigate by sun, moon and/or stars alone.
They can navigate under darkest clouds and fog, without any aid.
They can tell colours/smells that human or other mammals can not.
They can measure, very accurately, without any aid at all. (short distances)
They can measure, long distances, within the accuracy of a foot or two.
They can comunicate in more ways than one.
They can tell and recognize human faces. Not only one on one, but from pictures also.
They can recognize YOU - their keeper. (Can you recognize them? For being yours?)
There is much more, but I will stop now and I hope that those in doubt will get the drift?
Sadly, some people keep singling them out, so they can tear them down with better success? :roll:
I suspect they regard them as being stupid, not too smart, cause they stay with them? :) ;) :-D
Bees are studied in that regard (for smartness) as a whole hive! They only function best, as they do - as a hive, collectively that is. . .
One more thing:
An old "swamp person" from the Bayou of Louisiana, not too long ago, said to a person/scientist from the National Geographic: "Mista, you best shut you mouth now! You mabe book smart, but you ain't no common sense smart! Here mista, common sense means - if you live, or you die."
And also this one fits in here:
It is not the size that matters, it is what you do with it!
Regards,
Trot