![]() ![]() When they are three to six weeks old, workers spend most of their time outside the nest collecting food.” “When they are young, between zero and three weeks old, these tasks focus on duties deep inside the nest. “Changes in key hormones in the bodies of workers control the tasks and duties they perform,” Harris said. Jobs include cleaning the nest, building comb, nursing bee larvae, heating and cooling the nest, caring for the queen, guarding against intruders, handling and storing food, and foraging for food and water. Within the colony, worker bees have plenty to keep them occupied. “Their jobs are fairly distinct, as well.” “I don’t think most people appreciate that worker bees change their jobs as they age, which is fascinating in its own right given that the typical worker bee lives a mere 5-7 weeks during the summer season,” Harris said. Jeff Harris, a bee specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, explained the intricacies of life as a worker honey bee. ![]() Some scientists even classify a beehive, also called a colony, as a superorganism, an insect society made up of individuals that create a functioning whole. Like many natural phenomena, a hive of honey bees is incredibly complex. They must be hard workers - after all, the phrase "busy as a bee" had to come from somewhere. They fly around flowers, and once inside the hive, they make honey. From the outside, a honey bee hive looks pretty simple: bees fly in and out. ![]()
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