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Do Bees Sleep?

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Do bees sleep? Yes, is the answer. Well, kind of…

Bees have periods of rest that can be likened to sleep in some aspects. But it’s not quite the same as how humans or other mammals sleep. Bees, particularly worker bees (all female by the way!), have intense and demanding lives. They spend their time working hard either caring for the queen or the larvae, building wax, foraging for nectar, pollen, plant resin and water, maintaining temperature control within the colony, etc. All this activity means they need to rest and recharge the batteries sometimes.

During their periods of rest, bees may take short breaks where they become less active, resembling a state of sleep. However, unlike mammals, bees don’t have eyelids or closed eyes. Instead, they remain quite alert even during these restful periods. This means they are ready to respond to any threats or changes in the hive environment.

Bees who rest often seek out the edges of frames or combs within the hive. By positioning themselves away from the hustle and bustle of the central hive activity, these resting bees avoid interfering with the work of other workers while they take their brief reprieves. If you see a bee resting outside the hive, chances are it is just warming up its flight muscles or grooming before take-off back to the hive. They don’t have a snooze in the flowers as some may think…

Perhaps not surprisingly, bees experience longer periods of inactivity during the night when foraging becomes less feasible. During these times, they often cluster together in the hive to conserve energy. And also to maintain a steady temperature within the hive, essential for the development of the larvae and pupating bees.

So, while bees do have periods of rest that resemble sleep in some ways, their unique biology and social structure mean that their restful moments are intertwined with their duties and responsibilities within the hive, ensuring the continued success and survival of the colony.

I hope you enjoyed this little read. Please let me know if you have any bee-questions that you’d like me to answer in future posts.

Hanna Bäckmo

Hanna Bäckmo is an award-winning beekeeper, entrepreneur, hobby gardener and internationally published writer. Originally from a small island in Sweden, she now lives in East Cork with her son, two dogs, a flock of rescue chickens and lots of bees. Hanna is the founder of Hanna’s Bees, producing a unique range of natural and sustainable honey, propolis, and beeswax products sold in Ireland’s leading Gift & Artisan food stores and select US outlets. With 70 colonies of Native Irish honeybees, she is a passionate bee-advocate and educator and is an Ambassador for the Native Irish Honeybee.
Posted in Beekeeping, For beginners, Understanding Honeybees.
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