Bees and Communication: the secret language of bees

Bees have an extraordinary and very complex communication ability. The different ways that swarms use for communication are truly unique. We can say that bees use a sort of "secret language" that can be defined as such because it would be really difficult for us human beings to understand or decipher it. However, with careful observation of these beautiful animals, it is possible to find some interesting details. In the following article we will analyze the various languages ​​of bees and some really useful information to understand their world.

Are bees independent animals?

The answer to this question is: almost always no. In most cases, bees live in very large groups. Bees are therefore social animals. Their life develops inside the beehive in which a solid and compact continuous collaboration takes place. The bee families come to number 60,000 individuals. For this reason, bees have developed languages ​​that can be extended to large groups of components without particular difficulties. Communication is a vital element for the hive that serves bees for the division of tasks and the transfer of information . This will allow for easier survival over time. A bee excluded from its hive would face death within a few days.

However, it is not uncommon to find some cases of solitary bees . Almost in the totality of the times, bees live in groups, but cases of autonomous and independent bees have been identified that obtained food and sustenance on their own. In these cases, it is mainly wild bees or Osmie which do not produce honey and are not aggressive at all, but are essential for the entire ecosystem.

How do bees communicate?

The language of bees is highly technical and based mainly on pheromones , essential for the functioning of the hive. But that's not all.

Bees have developed a variety of interesting communication methods that can be very efficient. It must be said that even today there are still unclear aspects regarding the language of bees. An important role certainly belongs to Karl Von Frisch who received the Nobel Prize in 1973 for his contribution on this argument. 

"Bees have different perception mechanisms of the world around them compared to normal human parameters, they have sensory organs structured in a completely different way from ours, compound eyes and odor perception organs placed on some segments of the antennae , and these elements must be known and studied carefully, to avoid that certain experiments are staggered due to parameters based on human sensitivity rather than that of insects. "

The olfactory language: this is how whole swarms communicate

The methods that bees use to transfer information are really curious. Starting from the use of particular hums and vibrations up to the olfactory language through pheromones. The latter constitute a type of communication perceivable only by bees. These are particular hormones produced by the bees themselves in certain situations, such as for warnings regarding the presence of a danger or for communications regarding mating and egg laying. Pheromones are able to extend throughout the hive, reaching even the most distant bees. This type of communication is mainly used by the queen bee and is a very powerful tool.

Queen Bees and the use of pheromones

The use of pheromones by queen bees has a truly influential power over the other worker bees and the rest of the swarm. The hormones produced by the queen circulate within the hive and entice the bees to have certain behaviors. In the presence of the queen's pheromone for example, bees become very docile. It is not uncommon for beekeepers to use this tool to avoid getting stung when they have to perform certain delicate operations.

The queen bee uses pheromones a lot even before its mating . By emitting a large amount of olfactory hormones, it will be able to communicate to all the drones of the nearby hives that it is ready for the nuptial flight .

The dance of the bees

The bee dance is perhaps the most amazing method of communication that bees use. When an explorer bee goes in search of food, upon her return he must communicate to her similar ones where to go to stock up on nectar and then she must give "directions" to the rest of the swarm. How does she do it? Well, through special flights in the shape of the number 8 that indicate not only the distance but also the direction in which to go to reach the food source.

If we were to indicate this type of language with a single adjective, I believe that the absolute best is "symbolic", since the bee does not limit itself to communicating to its companions where the nectar is, but also all the various difficulties that could be in the path. Really amazing.

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