Honey Bee Queens - Dispelling the Myth of Their Rule
Queen bee with marked thorax
Honey bees are one of the most fascinating and crucial insects for the continued thriving of our environment and the plants we rely on for food. However, there is a persistent myth that honey bee queens are the rulers of the hive, and that they are in complete control of colony decisions and behaviour. In reality, the honey bee queen plays an essential role in the functioning of a hive, but they are not in charge. In this blog post, we will explore the roles of honey bee queen and her bees, and why the queen does not rule her hive.
The Role of the Queen
First and foremost, honey bee queens are not decision-makers. While they are responsible for laying eggs and maintaining the hive's overall health, they are not in charge of making all the decisions regarding the colony's survival. Instead, honey bee colonies operate as a superorganism, with each individual bee playing a role in ensuring the survival and success of the colony. Bees communicate with one another through pheromones and dances, and together they make decisions about everything from where to forage to when to swarm.
In fact, the queen bee's primary function is to lay eggs and reproduce. She is solely responsible for the production of all the bees in the colony and can lay up to two thousand eggs in a single day. However, she has no control over the bees' behaviour or whether they will forage or swarm. Her purpose is to ensure the continuation of the colony, and her workers do the rest.
Additionally, honey bees are eusocial insects, meaning they operate in a highly organised system where individuals are divided into different castes based on their role in the colony. In any colony, there is only one queen, and all other bees are either workers or drones. Workers are female bees, and their job is to carry out the duties necessary for the survival of the hive, like foraging for pollen and nectar, feeding the larvae, and maintaining the hive. Drones, on the other hand, are male bees whose sole purpose is to mate with the queen.
It's important to note that while the queen is not in charge of the colony's decisions, her presence is crucial for the colony's success. Without a queen, a colony will eventually die out. Queen bees release pheromones that help to keep the colony unified and organised. These pheromones also influence the bees' behaviour and can even suppress the development of other queens in the hive.
Conclusion
The idea of honey bee queens ruling their hive is a highly romanticised and inaccurate concept. While the queen bee plays an essential role in the colony's survival and wellbeing, she is not in charge of the hive's decisions. Instead, honey bee colonies operate as superorganisms, with each bee playing a vital role in ensuring the colony's survival.
Understanding the truth behind honey bee queens' role in the hive is crucial for anyone looking to keep their bees healthy and thriving. It is essential to provide a healthy and diverse environment for these crucial insects to continue their fundamental role as pollinators and protectors of our ecosystems.