Honey is a highly concentrated food source created by honey bees from gathered floral nectar or honeydew. This carbohydrate resource provides the energy required for all hive activities and colony survival. Once processed, the finished honey becomes a shelf-stable, high-calorie resource essential for the long-term maintenance and growth of the entire bee society.
Storing and Preserving the Supply
The immediate action bees take with the finished food is careful storage within the hive’s waxy architecture. Worker bees deposit the liquid into the numerous hexagonal cells of the honeycomb, which serve as the colony’s pantry. At this stage, the substance is still too watery for long-term keeping and is referred to as “unripe” honey.
To prevent fermentation and spoilage, the bees must reduce the moisture content significantly. They achieve this through a process called ripening, where worker bees fan the cells with their wings. This constant ventilation evaporates excess water, concentrating the sugars until the liquid reaches a stable moisture content, typically between 15.5% and 18%.
Once the honey achieves this viscosity, the workers cap the cell with a thin layer of beeswax. This wax seal locks out moisture from the humid hive environment, completing the preservation process. The capped honey is now protected from contamination and can be stored indefinitely.
Fueling the Colony’s Survival
The primary biological function of stored honey is to serve as the exclusive energy source for the adult members of the colony. Honey, composed mainly of the simple sugars fructose and glucose, fuels the metabolic activities of worker bees, drones, and the queen. This consistent carbohydrate intake is necessary for daily functions like communication, cleaning, and movement within the hive.
The most demanding use of this stored fuel occurs during the winter months, especially in temperate climates where foraging is impossible. Instead of hibernating, the bees form a tight cluster and consume honey reserves to generate heat. They rapidly vibrate their flight muscles in a form of shivering, which uses the sugars in the honey to maintain the center of the cluster at a steady temperature, often around 35 °C.
This energy-intensive process of thermoregulation allows the colony to survive cold periods when no fresh nectar is available. The entire colony relies on this amassed stockpile to bridge the resource gap, preventing starvation. A single hive can consume over 100 pounds of honey annually, reflecting the importance of this function.
Nourishing Developing Larvae
Beyond sustaining adult life, honey plays an important role in feeding the next generation of bees. Larvae that will become worker bees or drones consume honey as a major component of their diet after their initial feeding on royal jelly. This honey provides the high-energy carbohydrates necessary for rapid growth and development within the sealed cells.
The workers responsible for rearing the young combine the stored honey with gathered pollen to create a nutrient-rich compound often called “bee bread.” Pollen provides the necessary protein, fats, and vitamins, while honey supplies the concentrated energy. Nurse bees feed this prepared mixture directly to the older larvae to ensure they receive a balanced diet for pupation.
The availability of honey directly influences the colony’s capacity to raise new brood, which maintains the population size. A strong honey reserve allows the queen to continue laying eggs and workers to feed the larvae, even when nectar is temporarily scarce. Stored honey is necessary for both current survival and the future growth of the colony.