Understanding Orientation Flights: What They Mean for Your Bees
- Definition of orientation flights in beekeeping.
- Differences between orientation flights and swarming.
- The science behind orientation flights and bee behavior.
- Signs that your bees are performing orientation flights, not swarming.
- Benefits of orientation flights for the bee colony.
- Common misconceptions about orientation flights.
The Lifecycle of Honeybees Leading to Orientation Flights and Their Purpose
Honeybees (Apis mellifera) follow a well-defined lifecycle, beginning with egg laying and continuing through several key stages before they emerge as mature, functional members of the colony. One important part of a young honeybee’s development is the orientation flight, a crucial behavior that helps new worker bees establish their bearings before they start foraging.
1. Lifecycle Stages of Honeybees
The honeybee’s life begins when the queen lays an egg. There are three primary types of bees in a hive—workers, drones, and the queen—and the developmental process varies slightly between them.
- Egg (Days 1-3): The queen lays a single egg in each cell of the hive’s comb. This egg remains in its larval stage for three days.
- Larva (Days 4-9): After three days, the egg hatches into a larva. Worker bees feed the larvae a protein-rich substance called royal jelly. After a few days, the diet shifts to a mixture of honey and pollen (called bee bread), except for larvae destined to become queens, which continue to receive royal jelly.
- Pupa (Days 10-21): The larva spins a cocoon and enters the pupal stage. At this point, the cell is capped with wax by the worker bees, and metamorphosis begins. The larva transforms into a fully developed bee during this stage.
- Emerging Adult (Day 21): After approximately 21 days, a fully developed worker bee emerges from its cell. Drones (male bees) take a bit longer, about 24 days, and queens only 16 days.
2. Worker Bee Roles and Development
Worker bees, the most numerous members of the hive, perform various tasks as they mature. Their roles change depending on their age:
- Young Workers (1-10 days old): Immediately after emerging, young bees clean cells, feed larvae, and tend to the queen. These tasks help the hive maintain its inner structure and ensure the health of the next generation of bees.
- Middle-Aged Workers (10-20 days old): During this phase, the workers begin tasks like processing nectar into honey, building comb, and guarding the hive entrance.
- Foragers (21 days and beyond): At around 3 weeks old, worker bees transition into foragers. Before they can begin collecting nectar and pollen, however, they must perform orientation flights.
3. Orientation Flights and Their Purpose
Orientation flights are a key behavior for newly emerged bees as they prepare to transition to foraging. These flights occur when a young bee leaves the hive for the first time, flying short distances near the entrance and circling the hive to familiarize herself with the hive’s exact location.
What Orientation Flights Accomplish:
- Navigational Learning: During these flights, bees memorize visual landmarks near their hive, such as trees, rocks, and buildings. This mental mapping allows them to return to the correct hive after future foraging trips.
- Spatial Awareness: The bees’ flights begin with short, low-altitude loops around the hive. Over time, they gradually extend the distance of these flights, learning the layout of the surrounding area.
- Calibration of the Sun’s Position: Honeybees navigate using the sun’s position and the patterns of polarized light in the sky. During orientation flights, they calibrate their internal “solar compass,” which they will use later for navigating long distances.
- Coordination with Colony Activity: As bees mature and become foragers, orientation flights ensure they integrate into the colony’s foraging patterns. By memorizing the hive’s entrance, they can join the foragers in locating resources.
4. Duration and Timing of Orientation Flights
Orientation flights typically last only a few minutes and are more frequent during the warmer parts of the day when the sun is visible. The flights occur mainly during a worker bee’s third week of life, just before they begin foraging, and might be repeated several times until the bee is confident in her ability to return to the hive.
5. Connection to Foraging
Once the orientation flights are complete, the bees are ready to begin foraging for the colony. They will leave the hive, sometimes traveling up to 3-5 miles away, and bring back nectar, pollen, and water. Their ability to navigate back to the hive is critical for maintaining the flow of resources to sustain the colony.
Conclusion
Orientation flights are a vital developmental step for honeybees as they mature into foragers. These flights allow bees to learn their hive’s location, develop their navigational abilities, and prepare for the complex tasks of foraging. By performing orientation flights, bees ensure they can successfully find their way home, which is essential for the colony’s survival and efficiency.
If you would like to receive the monthly newsletter from Beewhisperer360 drop your email address in the comments section.
