Bees’ Surprising Social Structure
Bees live in highly organized colonies with a strict hierarchy. The queen bee is the only fertile female, while worker bees (sterile females) perform all the labor. Drones (males) exist solely to mate with the queen.
Bee Communication Dance
Bees use a 'waggle dance' to communicate the location of flowers to other bees. This intricate dance conveys distance and direction, showcasing their remarkable ability to perform complex tasks through simple movements.
Bees’ Incredible Memory
Bees have an exceptional memory and can recognize human faces. Studies show that bees can remember a person’s face for several days, using their advanced visual processing to distinguish between different features.
Electrifying Pollination
Bees can detect the electric fields of flowers. These fields help bees determine which flowers have been recently visited by other bees, optimizing their foraging efficiency and enhancing pollination success.
Bees and Medicine
Honey and propolis from bees have antibacterial properties. Propolis, a resin-like substance, is used by bees to seal their hives and keep them sterile, and it has been found to have medicinal uses for humans as well.
Bees Can Count
Bees can count up to four and understand the concept of zero, showing a level of numerical comprehension once thought unique to humans.