Honey bees and bumble bees only fly during the day.
This fascinating fact has come to light, so to speak, as a video of bees not being able to fly without light has gone viral on TikTok and Reddit. The video captures dozens of bees plummeting to the bottom of a laboratory container as soon as the lights are turned off, and has over 19 million views since being posted March 14.
The video, captured and posted on Twitter in December 2021 by postgraduate student Hamish Symington, show bees being studied by fellow student Kristina Buch in the Cambridge University Botanic Garden. That video has more than 11 million views, too.
"I'm surprised it's an on/off choice for them – no graceful trying to glide to land or anything like that, they literally just stop flying and plummet," Symington said in the tweet. "Surely that's more dangerous than keeping flying?"
Most bees, including honey bees and bumble bees, cannot fly at night. They are diurnal, meaning they only fly and pass along pollen during the day. Bees can crawl at night, however.
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How do bees see?
Even though these bees cannot technically see, they can use the sun's rays(polarized light) to guide them, said Quinn S. McFrederick, associate professor of entomology at the University of California Riverside.
Bees have compound eyes, one on each on the side of their head, made up of thousands of small lenses."So each of their eyes is actually a collection of many, many individual islands," McFrederick said.
They also have three ocelli or simple eyes, above the compound eyes, that aidin detecting light and movement.
Some bees do have night vision
Other bee species are crepuscular, which means that they are capable of seeing with little light. They fly during dusk, night and early morningto avoid the heat from the sun, according to bee research siteSchool of Bees.
Then, there are nocturnal bees, such as Lasioglossum (Sphecodogastra) texana, or the sweat bee,that can fly during full moons and half moons, the site BuzzAboutBees.Netsays.
A specific type of forager beecalledHalictidae, whichlives in the highlands of Panama, has adapted to be able to fly even without the aid of moonlight.
These bees gather nectar and pollenfrom specific plants that are only active during night time as there is less competition from other insects.
These night-flying bees have different eyes than those who fly out during the day."Those bees have evolved that kind of neurological trickery to be able to sort of amplify the signal that each photon sends to their brain," McFrederick said.
"Bees have evolved complex ways to navigate in darkness," he said.
As a seasoned entomologist with a focus on bee behavior and ecology, I find the recent viral video shedding light on the diurnal nature of honey bees and bumble bees particularly intriguing. The footage vividly demonstrates the abrupt cessation of flight in these bees when exposed to darkness, emphasizing their reliance on light for sustained aerial activity. This phenomenon aligns with the well-established understanding that most bees, including honey bees and bumble bees, are primarily diurnal creatures, active only during daylight hours.
The video, originally shared on Twitter by postgraduate student Hamish Symington, showcases a research endeavor by fellow student Kristina Buch at the Cambridge University Botanic Garden. Symington's observation that bees cease flying without any attempt at graceful landing underscores the stark contrast between their diurnal and nocturnal behaviors.
Now, let's delve into the intricate world of bee vision. Despite their inability to technically "see" in the conventional sense, bees possess remarkable adaptations for navigating their surroundings. Quinn S. McFrederick, an esteemed associate professor of entomology at the University of California Riverside, sheds light on the fact that bees utilize polarized light, particularly the sun's rays, as a navigational guide.
A crucial aspect of bee vision lies in their compound eyes, located on each side of their head, comprising thousands of small lenses. McFrederick elucidates that each eye is essentially a mosaic of individual lenses, contributing to their ability to interpret polarized light for navigation. Additionally, bees feature three ocelli, or simple eyes, situated above their compound eyes. These ocelli play a role in detecting light and movement, enhancing their overall visual capabilities.
While the majority of bees, including honey bees and bumble bees, are diurnal and incapable of flying at night, there are exceptions within the bee kingdom. Some bee species are crepuscular, exhibiting the ability to see in low light conditions. These bees are active during dusk, night, and early morning to avoid the sun's intense heat. Furthermore, there are truly nocturnal bees, exemplified by Lasioglossum (Sphecodogastra) texana, commonly known as the sweat bee. These bees can navigate and fly during full moons and half moons, showcasing their adaptation to dimly lit conditions.
A fascinating case emerges with a specific type of forager bee known as Halictidae, residing in the highlands of Panama. These bees have evolved to fly without the aid of moonlight, gathering nectar and pollen from plants that are exclusively active during the nighttime. McFrederick notes that these night-flying bees have evolved distinct eyes, employing "neurological trickery" to enhance their vision in darkness, amplifying the signals sent to their brains by each photon.
In essence, the world of bee vision and behavior is a testament to the remarkable adaptations that have evolved over time, allowing these industrious insects to navigate and thrive in diverse environmental conditions, both day and night.
