When a flower is visited, a honey bee can understand if the nectar of that flower has previously been consumed by another bee, and leaves the flower immediately. This way, it saves both time and energy. Well, how does the bee understand, without checking the flower, that the nectar is consumed?
This is made possible thanks to the bees which have visited the flower earlier and marked it by leaving a drop with a special scent. Whenever a new bee looks in on the same flower, it realizes the scent, understands that the flower if of no use and goes on flying directly towards another flower. Thus, bees are not allowed to waste time on the same flower.
"Then to eat of all the produce (of the earth), and find with skill the spacious paths of its Lord: there issues from within their bodies a drink of varying colours, wherein is healing for men: verily in this is a Sign for those who give thought." (Surat an-Nahl (The Bee) 69)
"And He has subjected to you, as from Him, all that is in the heavens and on earth: Behold, in that are Signs indeed for those who reflect." (Surat al-Jathiya (Crouching), 13)
Bees usually have to fly long distances and trace large areas to find food. They collect flower dust and honey constituent within a range of 800 m. from their hive. The bee which finds the flowers flies back to the hive to inform others about their place. But, how will this bee describe the place of the flowers to its friends in the hive? By dancing!… The bee returning to the hive starts to make some sort of a dance. This dance is a means of expression used to tell other bees the location of the flowers. This dance repeated many times by the bee, includes all the information about the inclination, direction, distance and other details of the food source that enable other bees to reach it.
Another point that bees consider during the construction of the honeycomb is the inclination of cells. By rising cells 13 in both sides, they prevent the cells from being parallel to ground. Thus, honey does not leak out from the mouth of the cell.
While working, worker bees hang onto each other in circles and get together in bunches. By doing this, they aim to provide the necessary temperature for wax production. Little sacks in their abdomen produce a transparent liquid, which leaks out and hardens the thin wax layers. Bees collect the wax with the little hooks on their legs. They put this wax into their mouth, chew and process it till it softens enough and shape it in the cells. Many bees work together to ensure the required temperature for the working place in order to keep the wax soft and processable.
There is another interesting point to note in the construction of the honeycomb:
"And your Lord taught the honey bee ...."
"And your Lord taught the honey bee to build its cells in hills, on trees, and in (men's) habitations; Then to eat of all the produce (of the earth), and find with skill the spacious paths of its Lord: there issues from within their bodies a drink of varying colours, wherein is healing for men: verily in this is a Sign for those who give thought. (Surat an-Nahl (The Bee), 68-69)
It is generally known that honey is a fundamental food source for the human body, whereas only a few people are aware of the extraordinary features of its producer, the honeybee.
As known, food source of bees is nectar, which is not possible to be found during winter. For this reason, they combine the nectar collected in summer time with special secretions of their body, produce a new food substance, which is honey, and store it for the coming winter months.
