Nectar is a sugary liquid produced by plants in specialized glands called nectaries, often located within flowers. This sweet substance is a primary reward offered by flowers to attract various pollinators, including bees, establishing a fundamental relationship.
Why Bees Collect Nectar
Bees collect nectar as an energy source for themselves and their colony. Nectar is rich in carbohydrates, providing the fuel for a bee’s demanding activities, such as flight and foraging. A bee can only survive for about 24 hours without nectar, unless hibernating.
When a foraging bee gathers nectar, it stores the liquid in a specialized organ called the “honey stomach,” separate from its digestive stomach. Upon returning to the hive, the nectar is transferred to other worker bees through mouth-to-mouth exchange. During this transfer and subsequent fanning, enzymes are added and water content is reduced from around 70% to about 17-18%, transforming the nectar into honey. This honey then serves as a stored food supply for the entire colony, particularly when flowers are scarce, such as winter.
The Collection Process
Bees possess specialized mouthparts for efficient nectar collection. The primary tool is the proboscis, a straw-like tongue that can extend and retract to suck nectar directly from the nectaries within the flower. When feeding on thick nectar, the bee’s bristly tongue can rapidly move up and down to lap up droplets.
Flowers have evolved structures to facilitate nectar collection. Nectaries are strategically placed, and flower shapes often guide bees to these nectar reservoirs. As the bee inserts its proboscis, it may use its front legs to hold onto the flower, ensuring a stable position while drawing out the sugary liquid. The bee’s ability to switch between lapping and direct suction, depending on nectar concentration and depth, allows it to extract nectar from diverse floral types.
Other Floral Resources
While nectar is a primary focus, bees also gather other resources from flowers to meet their nutritional needs. Pollen is another floral offering, serving as the main source of protein, fats, vitamins, and minerals for bees. This protein is important for the development of young bees and the health of the adult colony. Bees collect pollen on specialized structures called pollen baskets, or corbiculae, located on their hind legs.
Bees also collect water, which is important for hive functions. Water is used to dilute crystallized honey, regulate hive temperature through evaporative cooling, and in the production of royal jelly and bee bread for feeding larvae. Bees collect water from sources like damp rocks, puddles, or dewdrops. Additionally, bees gather propolis, a resinous mixture from tree buds and sap flows, which they mix with beeswax and saliva. Propolis is used to seal gaps in the hive, reinforce its structure, and protect the colony from pathogens.
The Pollination Connection
The relationship between bees and flowers is mutually beneficial, known as symbiosis, with nectar collection playing a central role. As bees visit flowers to gather nectar, pollen grains inadvertently stick to their furry bodies. When the bee moves to another flower, some pollen is transferred to the flower’s female reproductive parts, facilitating plant reproduction.
This process, known as pollination, is important for the survival of many flowering plants and global ecosystems. Bees are significant animal pollinators, contributing to the production of numerous food crops consumed by humans. Their foraging for nectar and pollen directly supports plant reproduction, which in turn supports biodiversity and food security worldwide.