Honey is a sweet and delicious treat. Honeybees work extremely hard gathering what they need to create this luxury for us to enjoy. There are complex steps that go into making honey and collecting it. But what about bees? Do bees eat their own honey?
When considering what bees eat to survive you would think honey is on the list. But it’s not that simple. In this article, we are going to go over what bees eat, and why.
So,let’s get started so we can help you learn the reasons why bees would eat their own honey.
Do Bees Actually Eat Honey?
Bees do in fact eat their own honey! But one caveat is to be aware of the differences in species. The fact is not every kind of bee that creates honey is considered a honeybee. There are thousands of species of Bee! Twenty thousand to be exact.
There is one species, in particular, that is known for making honey. These honeybees are part of the Apis genus species. This species of bee is known for its honey production.
There are seven subspecies within the classification of Apis genus and all of these bees generate large amounts of honey for beekeepers and their hive.
Let’s talk a little bit about what honey is made up of so we can understand further why some bees eat their own honey.
What Is Honey Made Up Of?
Well to us it’s a sweet and delectable treat. Even though for centuries honey has been used to heal wounds and other amazing things. For bees, the significance of honey goes we farther than how it’s primarily used today.
When bees make honey the first thingthey need is plant nectar, they also can utilize honeydew which is the waste left behind by other insects that have used nectar as a meal.
For bees, nectar is high in nutritional value. It’s like carbs for them, but in a much healthier way for them when the nectar is broken down. Pollen can be added to the bee’s daily diet and it’s filled with protein which bees need to maintain a healthy colony.
Making Honey
When it’s time to make honey nectar and pollen are the two major ingredients. And Bees make honey so they can store it away for later and use it for the structure of their comb. For the bees that have the ability to make honey, they have different anatomy then other bees, they have what is called the honey stomach. This critical part of the bee allows them to move nectar from the flower to the hive without digesting any of it.
Therefore, the supply of honey can be increased in the hive where it’s made. When bees make honey the steps of the process can be different depending on the bee. With that said it usually involves dehydrating nectar in some way allowing to take the form of honey. When bees create honey it is from the preservation of nectar.
Why Do Bees Eat Their Own Honey?
The male bee, also called the drone consumes large amounts of honey. And for good reason, their primary job is to mate with the queen. This is their only job, they are responsible and one half of keeping the species alive, and they are always busy. Keep in mind the kind of energy that must require.
Drones don’t leave the hive, they mate, eat honey stores, and rest. Because once their jobs are done, they die.
Refuel
Another reason why bees eat their own honey is to refuel. The worker be is moving non-stop, they get no time off, and are constantly moving back and forth between the hive and the flowers. The average life span of a worker bee is five to six weeks. Worker bees are female and their sole purpose is to provide honey so it makes sense they use it for energy. Tired, and weak the only break the worker bee gets is when asleep.
Wintertime
Just like any other animal or insect that lives outdoors-if not living in a region that is warm all the time, the seasons change. For bees, if there are no flowers there will be no honey production. So, the honey stores they have accumulated during the summer months where flowers are in bloom keep them alive.
Bees Wax Creation
Beeswax is used for countless products in our lives, the honeybee eats honey in order to produce this beeswax which they use for specific areas within the hive. In order to create beeswax, the bees need the ingredients within the honey to produce the wax.
In Conclusion
It’s clear to see the answer to the question do bees eat their own honey is yes. But more importantly, is why they do, it’s not simply for nourishment. Bees need it to survive as a colony not just as individual bees. If bees don’t have honey the species would perish. Honey is not just the by-product of something honeybees make, but also a life force.
Lake Honey offers great honey, and is a bee habitat for the most carefully, well taken care of hives in Texas. They offer the best tasting honey and variety.
If you want to enjoy the wonderful health benefits of honey without the unnecessary ingredients or additives call Lake Honey at (940) 277-BEES and taste the difference.