 Mighty Mind - Bee Intelligence
Honeybee at work on a flower.
Bees are amazing! Their tiny brains in no way reflect a tiny intelligence. In fact, they have mighty minds! And, they have sensory capabilities that we lack. Bees sense light differently than we do. They can see ultraviolet light - an adaptation that helps them locate a flower's nectar source. They can sense Earth's magnetic field, a benefit to their navigation or wayfinding.
Bees learn from other bees both by observation and communication. The bee waggle dance communicates distance and direction from the hive to a good flower patch for collecting nectar and or pollen. A circle dance indicates that the nectar source is close to the hive. Bees also influence plants. It has been discovered that bees can induce plants to bloom up to a month early!
Learn more about the amazing lives and minds of bees through these resources:
Here is a Maine guide about bees.
Wishing you many hours of bee watching! Next time you see one, thank them for all they do for us!
Jocelyn
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