What Is It Like to Be a Bee?

April 04, 2023

What Is It Like to Be a Bee?

Bees are social insects that live in colonies. Their biology and instincts largely determine the behavior of bees. Their specialized body parts allow them to perform specific tasks within the hive. On Atlas Obscura, Natasha Frost has taken a deep dive into bee consciousness and the sophisticated senses they possess. 

Foraging bees leave the hive searching for nectar and pollen and use their sense of smell to locate flowers. They communicate with other bees through a dance called the waggle dance, which tells other bees the location of the food source. Bees have a highly developed sense of vision and can see ultraviolet light, which helps them find flowers more quickly.

Bees play an important role in pollinating plants, essential for producing many fruits and vegetables that humans consume. Their highly organized and efficient behavior has fascinated scientists for centuries, and studying bees can help us better understand the natural world around us. Learn more about these fascinating beings and their subjective experience in the world. The article also provides some stunning close-up images of honeybees.

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