Beehives get honey because honey bees make it from plant nectar through a rather industrious process.
The Process of Honey Production
Honey is the result of the hard work of honey bees. As stated in the reference, bees create honey from plant nectar. This involves collecting nectar from flowers, storing it in a special stomach, and then processing it within the hive. Worker bees pass the nectar mouth-to-mouth, adding enzymes that break down sugars and reduce moisture content. They then store this partially processed nectar in honeycomb cells.
- Nectar Collection: Bees gather sugary nectar from flowering plants.
- Enzyme Addition: Inside the bee's stomach, enzymes are added to the nectar.
- Dehydration: Bees fan their wings over the open cells to evaporate excess water, thickening the liquid into honey.
- Storage: Once the honey reaches the right consistency, bees cap the cells with beeswax.
Why Bees Make and Store Honey
The honey stored in the hive serves a crucial purpose for the colony. It is used during cold weather or drought as a food source for the hive. This ensures the bees have sustenance when foraging is not possible.
Honey Surplus and Harvesting
Thankfully, bees work very hard and often make more honey than they need. This surplus honey is what allows humans, like beekeepers, to harvest the excess without harming the colony's survival.
