Communication and orientation of bees

To move around and memorize the distance they have traveled, bees make the most of some truly amazing orientation instincts . To move and understand in which direction they are moving, bees use one of the most popular methods in antiquity, namely the observation of the sun.

By simply identifying the position of the sun and the origin of the rays, bees are able to understand how and when to move using this tool. The element that leaves us most amazed then, is that the bees are able to communicate with each other, indicating the position of the food source to the rest of the swarm . Let's find out more about communication and orientation in the world of bees .

How a bee orientates itself

A bee can easily orient itself thanks to the polarized light of the sun . We humans are unable to see this type of light and in the event of a cloudy sky, we would not be able to understand the exact position of the sun. Bees, on the other hand, succeed, but how is this possible? They have developed this capability thanks to the antennas . Those small structures placed above the head are in fact made up of many different receptors and constantly collect information. Thanks to the antennas, a bee can easily orient itself even in unfavorable weather conditions by perceiving the position of the sun thanks to the polarized light that it always manages to identify in any case. 

How to place the hives?

The positioning of the hives is a point on which to reflect in the best possible way to then give a comfortable and practical setting to work. Positioning the hives well will facilitate both the beekeeper and the bees . As for the height, we recommend that you choose one that will facilitate your interventions and checks without difficulty. A hive that is too high or too low could unnecessarily tire your work. The beekeeper applies continuous control activities and choosing an optimal location will also help their bees to produce honey and stay healthy. We always recommend places away from car traffic, from intensive agriculture that weakens bees, but it is also recommended to avoid particularly windy places that could be a great obstacle for our beloved bees.

As regards orientation, it is very important that the hives face south and that they are exposed to the sun at least in the morning. This favors the resumption of bee activity . It would be great if they received light even in the afternoon, especially in winter. The hives must also be of different colors. This will allow the returning bee to recognize the hive as belonging to her family and not get confused. Bees are also very good at distinguishing some shapes or signs. As for the colors, however, we know that bees can clearly distinguish only four of them, which are: yellow, bluish green, blue and ultraviolet.

How far can bees travel

When bees go in search of food, they move away from the hive to find a source that allows them to stock up on nectar and pollen. But how far can they get away from the hive? According to studies it is believed that a bee can fly up to 3 km away from its hive but over time it has been shown that in reality this value can be even greater, which is really surprising for some such small animals! Furthermore, it would be necessary to calculate the flight path to return to the family and therefore also the way back.

How bees communicate

To communicate with each other, bees use different methods. The hive is formed by a close collaboration of all components. The swarm is very operational and efficient but to make it work, the bees need to pass information to each other. But how do bees communicate ? To do this, bees use various different methods. The first is certainly the use of pheromones . These are particular olfactory hormones that the queen uses to communicate with her workers or with the drones of the hive . Pheromones are able to greatly influence the behavior of bees and they are perceived thanks to the receptors present in the antennae. Even the latter are often used to transmit information from one bee to another through small movements.

As for the collection of nectar, bees have a very elaborate communication system. These animals use truly amazing language to tell the rest of the swarm what position to move to. When a forager finds a new food resource, she returns to the nest and makes contact with other bees in the hive. This is a significant evolutionary advantage when it comes to resources. Bees are able to recreate a kind of mind map indicating the way to go to reach the food source. This method is referred to as the "bee dance".

The dance of bees: what it is and what it is used for

The bee dance is a wonderful phenomenon that explorer or forager bees use to give real directions to the rest of the swarm about where to go to collect nectar. Through circular movements in the shape of 8, the bees are able to communicate not only the direction of the place to reach but also the distance and even the amount of food available!

The crazy thing is that bees don't always decide to respect and rely on this information. A hive has thousands of individuals and not all foragers transmit correct information. In fact, it has been observed that the other workers prefer to follow the information of an elderly bee rather than a young one and that they are able to remember the information on where to go even the next day! Really amazing!

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