Do Bees Fly At Night?

Even if you’ve never kept bees yourself, most everyone knows that bees forage for nectar and pollen during the day and return to their hive at night. What we may not know is what’s behind that behavior, and when it may vary from what we perceive to be the norm.

If you’ve ever had a bee trapped inside of your home or another structure, you’ll notice how they are instinctively attracted to light, be it natural or artificial. That’s because bees use sunlight to navigate. Their compound eyes mean that they don’t see the world like we do. Instead, these collections of tiny lenses use the polarized light of the sun’s rays to guide them. They can also detect light levels and movement. When there is insufficient light available, it is difficult to impossible for bees to get where they’re going. Their instinctive sense of lower light levels naturally leads them to return to their homes toward nightfall.

That said, if honeybees have enough light available to them, they certainly can fly at night. For instance, if a bright light is shone on a hive at night, you can bet that bees will come out to see what’s going on and whether they need to protect their colony. Bees are able to fly at night, given sufficient light, but it isn’t their typical pattern of behavior. In fact this is so ingrained into their genetic makeup that if they are foraging too late and find light levels dropping fast, with no time to make it back to the hive, they will likely find somewhere safe to spend the night instead of risking a trip in the dark.

Night Flyers

In other areas of the world–primarily tropical zones–the native bees do fly at night. This is because their primary food sources are only available at that time, thanks to night blooming flowers. This type of bee is called “crepuscular,” or “nocturnal,” in contrast to the “diurnal,” or day-flying species we all know and love. These bees are able to navigate well even in low to no natural light. This enables them to fly in the cooler parts of the day, during dusk, nighttime, and early mornings. Because these bees are adapted for their unique conditions, their eyes aure different from the honeybees and bumblebees we see in our yards and gardens.

If you are noticing native US bees or honeybees flying at night and being attracted to flood or porch lights, there is a chance that the bees have been parasitized by the Zombie Fly (Apocephalus borealis). The resulting “ZomBees” behave unusually, leaving their hives at night and ultimately meeting their end. There is a citizen science project called ZomBee Watch that is doing research to learn more about bees’ habits and how infection by this native parasitic fly affects them.

What Do Bees Do At Night?

Whether we are beekeepers or homeowners and gardeners, we’re glad that bees aren’t very active at night. It gives us a time when we can safely move hives and handle pest infestations in our gardens. Of course, these creatures didn’t inspire the common saying “busy as a bee” for nothing–just because they’re in the hive, doesn’t mean they aren’t working!

During the evening hours, bees’ tasks switch from food gathering to more domestic activities, such as cleaning debris, warming the hive, and processing foraged food. And yes, they even find time to sleep. Younger bees may not need as much rest, while the foragers are more often tired out from the long day’s work. Age and role in the hive typically determine how much of the night is spent resting or working.

Reliable Honey Bee Removal In Cleveland

Whatever the reason is that you’re interested in learning more about honeybees, we love to see it! Native bees and honey bees are so central to the natural world, and we encourage everyone we can to get to know these fascinating creatures. That said, if they’re getting a little too up close and personal for your liking, you might be looking at swarming bees or even an infestation. It could be time to call in an expert in bee control in the Cleveland area. That’s where the experienced team at Cleveland Bee Removal comes in. We are able to remove bees, wasps, hornets, and other pests, like ants and rodents from your home or business. As a licensed bee exterminator in Cleveland, we will quickly and efficiently handle any threat these insects pose. Get in touch with us today to learn more about our pest control services and to request a quote for honey bee removal.