Honey bees are well-known for their pursuit of nectar and pollen, but a less-recognized foraging activity is their collection of water. This necessary and highly organized behavior determines the health and survival of the entire colony. Understanding the distances honey bees travel for water, and the factors that influence those trips, provides insight into the complex logistics governing hive life. Water collection is a direct reflection of the colony’s internal state and environmental pressures, highlighting that water is a non-negotiable resource foragers must secure.
The Critical Role of Water for Honey Bee Colonies
Water is not stored in large quantities within the hive, making continuous collection a requirement, especially during warmer months. The most immediate use for water is thermoregulation, or cooling the hive. Worker bees spread thin films of water across the comb surfaces and use rapid wing fanning to increase air circulation, causing the water to evaporate and cool the hive interior. This mechanism is necessary to maintain a stable brood nest temperature, typically between 32 and 36 degrees Celsius, which is required for larval development.
Water is also necessary for the preparation of food, particularly for the young brood. Nurse bees require water to dilute stored honey or crystallized sugar into a digestible liquid form for the larvae. Royal jelly, the secretion fed to young larvae, is roughly 60 to 70 percent water, meaning nurse bees must ingest significant amounts to produce it. Colonies experience peak water demand in late spring and summer during periods of intense brood rearing and high temperatures.
Determining Foraging Range for Water Collection
The distance a honey bee travels for water is usually shorter than trips for nectar or pollen, largely due to energetic constraints. For general foraging, bees can travel an average of one to three miles (1.6 to 4.8 kilometers). Water collection is metabolically different because water provides no caloric energy for the return flight.
A bee carrying a load of water must rely entirely on its internal energy reserves, which significantly restricts the efficient travel distance. Dedicated water foragers typically limit their trips to a range of 1.2 to 1.8 miles (2 to 3 kilometers) from the hive. When suitable water sources are readily available, bees preferentially use sources much closer, often within a few hundred yards. This maximizes efficiency, allowing water carriers to complete many trips—sometimes up to 100 per day—to meet the colony’s urgent demand.
Environmental Factors That Alter Travel Distance
The distance traveled is not fixed, but is a flexible response to both the weather and the colony’s internal condition. High air temperatures directly increase the need for evaporative cooling, which raises the overall water demand. This can drive bees to seek sources farther away if local ones are depleted. Conversely, very hot conditions can make long-distance flight inefficient, causing bees to focus on the closest available resource. Low relative humidity similarly increases the rate of evaporation from the hive, accelerating water consumption and the need for more frequent foraging trips.
Colony strength and the status of the brood nest are major internal factors influencing distance. A large, rapidly expanding colony requires substantially more water for food preparation and temperature control than a smaller, less active hive. If a clean, reliable source of water is nearby, the bees establish a consistent flight path. However, if local sources dry up or become contaminated, the colony’s need overrides the energetic cost, forcing foragers to travel greater distances until a new, profitable source is established.
How to Provide Safe Water Sources
To support honey bees, especially in dry or hot conditions, providing a supplemental water source is recommended. Offer a place where bees can land and drink without the danger of drowning. Shallow dishes, bird baths, or trays should be filled with materials that protrude above the water line to serve as safe landing platforms:
- Pebbles
- Corks
- Twigs
- Moss
Bees often prefer water that is not sparkling clean, as a slight smell helps them locate the source through scent. They are frequently attracted to mineral-rich or slightly “dirty” water, sometimes even preferring sources that contain small amounts of salts or chlorine. Once a water source is established, it should be maintained with clean, non-chlorinated water and refilled regularly to ensure reliability. Placing the source close to where bees forage, but away from human high-traffic areas, encourages use.