How Do Bees Make Honey?
Q: How do bees make honey?
A: Honey is made by worker bees that collect nectar from flowering plants. The nectar is stored in their honey stomach, where enzymes begin to break it down. Back in the hive, bees pass the nectar mouth-to-mouth, reducing its water content and transforming it chemically. Finally, the concentrated liquid is deposited into wax cells and sealed with beeswax to become honey.
From Nectar to Honey: A Natural Process
Honey is not just a sweet treat; it’s a precisely engineered food source for bees, designed for long-term storage. Bees make honey to feed their colony during times when fresh nectar is unavailable — especially in winter or during droughts. Humans have valued honey for thousands of years due to its natural sweetness, shelf-stability, and medicinal properties.
In this guide, you’ll learn exactly how bees turn raw nectar into thick, golden honey using their bodies and coordinated teamwork.
What Is Honey?
Honey is a concentrated sugar solution produced by bees from plant nectar. It typically contains:
- 80–85% sugars (mainly glucose and fructose)
- 15–20% water
- Trace enzymes, amino acids, acids, minerals, and antioxidants
It is hygroscopic (absorbs water), acidic, and naturally antibacterial due to its low pH and presence of hydrogen peroxide compounds.
Which Bees Make Honey?
All worker bees in the hive play a role in honey production, but their tasks vary by age:
| Age of Worker Bee | Role in Honey Making |
|---|---|
| Days 1–10 | Clean cells, tend brood |
| Days 11–20 | Receive nectar and process it into honey |
| Days 21+ | Forage for nectar and pollen |
Step-by-Step: How Do Bees Make Honey?
1. Nectar Collection by Forager Bees
Forager bees visit flowering plants to collect nectar, a sugary liquid secreted by blossoms to attract pollinators.
- Nectar is sucked up by the bee’s proboscis and stored in a special stomach called the honey stomach (not used for digestion).
- A single trip may yield up to 70 mg of nectar.
2. Enzymatic Conversion in the Honey Stomach
Inside the honey stomach, enzymes begin transforming nectar:
- The enzyme invertase breaks down sucrose into glucose and fructose.
- Other enzymes like glucose oxidase help produce small amounts of hydrogen peroxide, contributing to honey’s antibacterial properties.
This pre-processing makes the nectar more stable and starts reducing moisture.
3. Transfer to House Bees
Upon returning to the hive:
- The forager regurgitates the nectar to a house bee through mouth-to-mouth transfer.
- This process is called trophallaxis.
- House bees re-chew and process the nectar multiple times to further break it down and reduce moisture.
This cooperative chain increases enzyme activity and spreads nectar evenly.
4. Evaporation and Moisture Reduction
Processed nectar is then:
- Deposited into empty wax comb cells
- Exposed to warm hive temperatures (32–35°C)
- Fanned by bees using their wings to evaporate water content
Bees fan the hive continuously to bring the moisture content of nectar down from about 70–80% to below 18%, turning it into honey.
5. Sealing the Honey Cell
Once fully ripened:
- The honey is capped with a thin layer of beeswax
- This seals it from air and moisture, preserving it indefinitely
Sealed honey is stored for future feeding, especially during cold or dry periods.
Honey Production Process
Key Chemical Changes During Honey Production
| Process | Result |
|---|---|
| Invertase enzyme | Sucrose → glucose + fructose |
| Glucose oxidase | Produces mild hydrogen peroxide |
| Water evaporation | Reduces spoilage risk |
| Final pH | 3.4–4.5 (inhibits bacteria) |
How Long Does It Take Bees to Make Honey?
- A single bee produces about 1/12 of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime.
- It takes around 300 bees to gather 1 kg of honey in a few weeks during nectar flow.
- The colony’s output varies by season, weather, forage availability, and health.
Why Do Bees Make Honey?
Bees make honey for food security. Nectar is perishable and unstable, but honey is long-lasting.
Honey provides:
- Energy: Rich in carbohydrates
- Storage: Can last indefinitely when capped
- Emergency supply: Used during winter or drought
- Food for brood: Fed to larvae along with pollen
Do All Bees Make Honey?
No. Only species in the Apis genus — especially Apis mellifera — produce honey in large enough quantities for storage and harvesting.
Other bees (e.g., bumblebees or solitary bees):
- May make small amounts of nectar concentrate
- Do not store honey long-term
- Lack structured colonies like honeybees
Can Humans Harvest Honey Without Harming Bees?
Yes, if done responsibly:
- Only excess honey should be harvested, leaving enough for the bees’ needs.
- Use of smokers calms bees during harvesting.
- Modern hives allow beekeepers to extract honey without destroying the comb.
Unethical practices, such as replacing honey with sugar syrup, can harm bee health.
FAQ About Honey
Q: Is honey just dehydrated nectar?
A: Not exactly. Honey is both dehydrated and chemically transformed by bee enzymes.
Q: How is nectar different from honey?
A: Nectar is watery, sugar-rich plant liquid. Honey is concentrated, enzyme-treated, and shelf-stable.
Q: How do bees know when to cap the honey?
A: Bees cap cells when the moisture level drops below 18%, ensuring long-term storage.
Q: What makes honey antibacterial?
A: Low water content, acidity, hydrogen peroxide, and natural compounds all contribute.
Q: How many flowers are needed to make a teaspoon of honey?
A: Bees may visit 2,000–5,000 flowers to produce just one teaspoon.
Human Uses of Honey
Humans have used honey for thousands of years:
| Use | Description |
|---|---|
| Sweetener | Natural sugar alternative |
| Medicinal | Used on wounds, coughs, and burns |
| Food preservation | Antibacterial properties inhibit spoilage |
| Fermentation | Base for mead and natural tonics |
| Skincare | Found in natural balms and masks |
Why Understanding Honey Production Matters
Knowing how bees make honey helps in:
- Supporting sustainable beekeeping
- Appreciating the ecological role of pollinators
- Understanding honey quality and origin
- Teaching children or consumers about pollinator conservation
South African honey bees (particularly Apis mellifera capensis in the south and Apis mellifera scutellata in the north) produce honey from a wide variety of indigenous nectar sources like karoo shrubs, eucalyptus trees, and bluegum, resulting in distinctive regional honey profiles.
🐝 Explore More in the “How Bees Make…” Series