Any differences in flight path?

[bernsad]

Can you determine if a bee is heading to a resource or to the hive by the appearance of her flight? Are there any noticible differences? Are they more determined one way or the other?

[mikecva]

I gather the hive in question is not in site. My bees when foraging do a slight zig-zag, I presume to directionalize the smell (honey bees have 2000 receptors for smell and can find a single apple tree 2 miles away). Sight foraging has wider pattern and usually is done during bright light times of the day. On return to the hive the flight is usually straight. Some have told me that the return flight is also lower then foraging flights but I have not gotten into it that far.  - Mike 

[paindragon1]

Makes sense because they are loaded down with all that nummy pollen.

[bernsad]

Thanks for the reply Mike. No, I don't know where the hive is but I often see bees on their merry way from one place to another and I would like to try finding the hive but it would be good to know if they are outbound or in.