10 interesting facts about bees

Here is some information about bees that not everyone knows

bees are really interesting animals. In their small world, there are many surprising mechanisms hidden. Bees are very precise, clean and hardworking beings.

Their activities within the hive are numerous and constant. Bees work through a mechanism of division and coordination of tasks. They are able to communicate with each other very efficiently.

Here for you 10 interesting facts about bees that not everyone knows.

1. Bees are the only ones to produce edible food for humans

honey , as well as royal jelly , are foods that even humans are able to digest. Bees are the only animals that produce edible food for humans. In fact, honey is rich in nutrients that are very beneficial to humans.

2. The sting is a purely female organ

If you didn't know, the sting is an organ that belongs only to female bees. Only female bees can sting . Drones are unable to defend themselves. It is possible to notice with the naked eye how the final part of the male body ends in a clean and straight way. The female body, on the other hand, ends with the classic “V” shape.

3. Only the queen bee is able to reproduce

The queen bee is the only fertile individual in the colony. Only queen bees are able to reproduce. For this reason they are considered essential for the survival of a colony . Without a queen bee to ensure the replacement of bees, the swarm would be short-lived.

4. Bees have 5 eyes

Bees have 5 eyes ! The two larger eyes are called compound eyes and are located on the sides of the head. The smaller three ocelli , on the other hand, are located in the upper part of the head. Ocelli allow bees to focus on closest objects. The arrangement of the eyes allows the bees to have a good view of the surrounding world, especially during flight.

5. Pheromones are used by the queen to control other bees

The queen bee produces olfactory hormones called pheromones . The latter are able to control the behavior of other bees making them more docile and collaborative. Pheromones are essential for the control and coordination of work but also to create a perfect coexistence between the components of a colony.

6. Bees invented mummies

This is certainly one of the most surprising curiosities. Bees invented mummies before the Egyptians! Since bees are scrupulously clean animals, they have implemented this practice precisely to prevent dangerous decomposition phenomena inside the hive.

Usually, scavenger bees take care of removing the bodies of deceased bees in no time. In some cases, however, it happens that predators and enemies can also enter the hive. When an intruder enters the hive, the bees attack him in groups and kill him immediately. When the predator's weight is excessive, the bees cannot move the carcass and for this, they transform it into a mummy.

Bees cover the body of the enemy (now deceased) with propolis. Since propolis is a natural antibiotic, this substance preserves the body and prevents its decomposition. In this way, bees can continue to live in a clean and free from diseases and parasites .

7. The brain of bees is highly developed

Bees are intelligent animals that can recognize faces , and detect certain colors or shapes. Their brains are also capable of reasoning and calculating. To understand this, we need only look at the precision with which a beehive is built.

8. Bees communicate by dancing

Bees use different types of communication. Among these we also find the famous “ dance of the bees ”. But what exactly do we mean by dance? The bees perform particular circular flights "eight". Through these dances, the bees are able to communicate to the rest of the swarm where is the food source where they have to forage. The dance of the bees communicates both the direction in which to go and the distance of the place from the hive.

9. The sun is used by bees as a compass

Bees use the sun as a method of orientation. They are able to see polarized light and therefore can always identify the position of the sun, even in cloudy skies.

10. Bees prefer to drink dirty water

Bees much prefer to drink dirty water. This is because their metabolism requires mineral salts in large quantities. Bees can find these substances in stagnant water and not in spring water.

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