How do honey bees communicate?

Honey bees use dance moves to tell each other where to find food.

Imagine you're playing tag with your friends, and when you catch someone, you shout, "Food is over there!" That’s kind of what honey bees do, but instead of shouting, they dance.

When a bee finds a good spot with lots of nectar (like a juicy fruit), it goes back to the hive and starts doing a special waggle dance. The way it moves tells other bees how far away the food is and which direction to go.

• If the food is near, the dance is quick and short.
• If the food is far, the dance is slower and longer, just like when you walk slowly if you're tired.

The bee also uses body language. When it waggles its body from side to side while moving in a circle, it’s giving directions like a tiny robot on a map!

Other bees watch the dance and follow the clues, just like how you might look at a friend's face when they point somewhere exciting.