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Fun Facts & Interesting Information on Honey Bees

Honey Bee Facts

Did You Know?

Bees have 5 eyes and 2 pairs of wings.

Bees fly approximately 20 mph (32.2 km/h).

The queen bee can lay up to 2,000 eggs a day.

Bees have been here about 30 million years.

An average beehive can hold around 50,000 bees.

Bees carry pollen on their hind legs in a pollen basket called a corbicula.

The principal form of communication among honey bees is through chemicals called pheromones.

Bees pollinate approximately 130 agricultural crops in the US including fruit, fiber, nut, and vegetable crops. Bee pollination adds approximately 14 billion dollars annually to improved crop yield and quality.

Is "Honey Bee" One Word or Two?

Many people notice that dictionaries list "honeybee" as one word. However, entomologists use the two-word naming convention "honey bee". So, both are correct!

Anatomy of a Honey Bee

Compound eyes

Honey bees have two large compound eyes, which are made up of thousands of tiny lenses called ommatidia. These eyes help bees detect movement, light intensity, and color. They also have three simple eyes, or ocelli, on top of their head that help them perceive light intensity and navigate using the sun.

Antennae

Bees have two antennae that function as their primary sensory organs. These antennae contain receptors for detecting odors, tastes, vibrations, and even humidity levels.

Proboscis

The proboscis, or "tongue," of a bee is a long, flexible tube that allows them to drink nectar from flowers. It functions like a straw, and when not in use, the proboscis can be neatly folded under the bee's head.

Wings

Honey bees have two pairs of wings, with the larger forewings and smaller hind wings connected by a row of hooks called hamuli. These hooks allow the wings to work in unison, providing lift and maneuverability during flight. Bees can beat their wings up to 200 times per second, allowing them to fly at speeds of around 15-20 miles per hour.

Legs

Bees have six legs, each with specialized functions. The front pair of legs have small notches for cleaning their antennae, while the middle and hind legs are adapted for gathering and carrying pollen. The hind legs have a structure called the pollen basket, or corbicula, for storing collected pollen.

Stinger

Female worker bees have a barbed stinger, which they use as a defense mechanism when they feel threatened. When a bee stings, the barbed stinger is often left behind, along with a venom sac and muscles that continue to pump venom. This injury ultimately results in the bee's death.

Top Honey Producing States in 2022

The information in the following table is for demonstration purposes only and does not contain accurate data. Do not take the data as fact.

Honey Rating Data, 1 (worst) to 10 (best) – 2023 Quinnipiac University Poll

	Total Colonies	Corporate Colonies	Backyard Colonies	Production (lbs)	Average Price (per lb)	Value of Production	Honey Rating
Alabama	7	6	1	7,273	$5.52	$71,507	10
Arizona	25	5	20	900	$2.38	$2,142	5
California	320	200	120	13,760	$2.00	$26,832	5
Florida	192	112	82	8,832	$2.24	$19,784	4
Michigan	95	80	15	4,465	$2.95	$13,172	6
North Dakota	495	300	195	38,610	$1.59	$61,390	9
South Dakota	245	200	45	25,980	$1.77	$26,453	8
Texas	157	57	100	8,949	$2.00	$17,898	9
Washington	98	50	48	3,626	$2.51	$9,101	7