pollen and carrying dead bees

[tomofreno]

Usually it would still be cold here in high desert (4500 ft) this time of year, but we have had temps around 70 for about a week.  Bees have been very busy bringing in pollen.  What are they getting it from this time of year?

I enjoy watching the bees going about their work and noticed that most dead bees are dumped in front of the hive, but some bees struggle to drag a dead one out, get it in position and then fly away as far as I can see them with it - like 60 to 70 yards and around 30 to 40 feet high, and still going.  Any idea why they would expend so much energy to carry them so far away?

[Michael Bush]

Different workers have different genetics and therefore different instincts.  Further would seem better as far as removing any disease further away, and not attracting insectivores to the hive.