The well-known bee writer/researcher Walter Kaiser watched honeybees in his hive. He took note of movements indicating one factor: sleep. When Henry Kaiser observed groups of bees in their hive, he saw the insects’ legs relax, antennae movement stops, and some bees even fall over sideways, as if they were exhausted.
Do honebees sleep?
Honeybees sleep between five and eight hours a day. The number of hours they sleep depends on their assigned work. For example, sleep is most crucial for foragers. Sleep deprivation is bad for communication skills. Foragers must be excellent communicators if they want to get the most out of their search for food. Their dance signals may not work properly when they are tired. Other foragers might waste time and energy on a fruitless journey.
While sleeping some bees hold each other’s legs as they sleep or the legs are folded beneath the body. They sleep on their hives at night to keep warm while they wait for flowers to open up in the morning so they can go out foraging again.
Both humans and honey bees tend to sleep at night so they can have the energy to work during the day. Both humans and bees experience a drop in body temperature and spend less time moving and engaging in other activities.
