The Hive Mind: How Honey Bees Make Collective Decisions.: How Honey Bees Make Collective Decisions

By Ayesha Khan

Overview of Honey Bee Associations

Apis mellifera, the scientific name for honey bees, are amazing animals that have captivated people's attention for ages. These little insects are essential to the pollination of many of the crops that provide us with food as well as other flowering plants. However, honey bees are renowned for more than just their incredible pollination abilities; they are also well-known for their complex and extremely structured societies. We will delve into the social structure, communication, and labor division of honey bee societies, revealing a fascinating and intricate world.

The Social Organization of Bee Societies

A common description of honey bee societies is that they are superorganisms, with the collective behavior of the colony taking precedence over that of any one individual bee. The queen bee, worker bees, and drones are the three main castes that comprise these communities.

Queen Bee: The most important person in the colony is the queen bee. Her main responsibility is to lay eggs, which ensures the colony's survival and expansion. In addition to being bigger and longer than worker bees, queens have unique physical traits designed specifically for laying eggs, such as a longer abdomen and a stinger that is altered for egg-laying rather than defense. Usually, there is only one queen per colony, yet there are situations in which new queens can be raised. Chemical pheromones released by the queen bee aid in preserving order in the colony. These pheromones keep the workers faithful to the reigning queen while preventing the growth of other queens.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 9358686855
• ISBN13: 9789358686852
• Release Date: November 2023
• Publisher: Self Publisher
• Length: 148 Pages
• Weight: 0.46 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.0" x 9.0"