×
HoneyBee School & Supply

Resources

HoneyBee School & Supply

Where do bees poop?

Bees do not have a specific location in the hive where they go to defecate. Instead, they defecate wherever they happen to be at the time, typically outside of the hive. Bees will defecate while they are foraging for nectar and pollen, or while they are resting on flowers or other surfaces. They may also defecate while they are flying, although this is less common. Inside the hive, bees will generally try to avoid defecating in areas where they live and store food. However, it is not uncommon for there to be some accumulation of feces in the hive, especially in areas w...
HoneyBee School & Supply

The Honeybee “Scout”

In a honeybee colony, a “scout” is a worker bee that is responsible for searching for new sources of food and potential sites for a new hive. Scouts will leave the hive and fly to nearby flowers or other potential food sources, and then return to the hive to communicate the location of the resources to the other bees. Scouts use a behavior called the “waggle dance” to communicate the location of the food to the other bees. The waggle dance involves the scout bee performing a specific pattern of movements and vibrations that convey information ab...
HoneyBee School & Supply

Beekeeping Lesson – Range of a HoneyBee

Honeybees will typically fly up to a few miles from their hive to forage for food. The exact distance that they will fly will depend on several factors, including the availability of food sources, the weather, and the size and age of the bees. Bees are able to fly long distances because they have a highly developed navigation system that allows them to orient themselves and find their way back to the hive. They use a combination of landmarks, the position of the sun, and other cues to navigate. While bees will generally fly a few miles from their hive to forage, they h...
HoneyBee School & Supply

Honeybee Sleep

Honeybees do not sleep in the same way that humans do. Instead of sleeping for extended periods of time, they take short breaks throughout the day to rest and conserve energy. During these rest periods, bees will typically find a quiet place to rest, such as in the hive or on a flower. They will lower their metabolism, reduce their movement, and enter a state of reduced activity. Bees do not have a dedicated sleep period like humans do, and they are able to function with very little rest. In fact, worker bees will typically only rest for about 5-8% of their lives. This...
HoneyBee School & Supply

Bee Phermones the Beekeeper Should Understand

Honeybees use a variety of pheromones, which are chemical substances that are produced by an animal and used to communicate with others of the same species. These pheromones are used by bees to convey information, attract mates, and mark trails to food sources. Some of the pheromones used by honeybees include: Queen pheromone: The queen bee produces a pheromone that is used to attract and coordinate the activities of the other bees in the hive. This pheromone is also used to suppress the development of new queens and to prevent worker bees from laying eggs. Alarm pher...

Featured Videos

Featured Videos