Rau, P. (1929). Experimental studies in the homing of carpenter and mining bees. Journal of Comparative Psychology, 9(1), 35-70.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/h0076024
Ten marked bees were taken ½ mile north of home; in times varying from 15 minutes to 26 hours, every one returned home. Again 11 marked bees were taken 2 miles south of their home, and every one returned home in times from 45 minutes to 32½ hours. Again 17 marked bees were taken 2 3/4 miles south from home, with, however, the old landmarks to guide them (a railroad track); 15 of these returned home in intervals from 2 1/12 to 33 1/3 hours. In a fourth experiment, 32 females were taken west, 1 3/4 miles, with no familiar guiding landmarks to aid them; 26 of these successfully returned home, the intervals ranging from 2 hours to 49 hours. Five other experiments of similar nature were conducted, with much the same results. It is suggested that vision guides the bee's flight. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)