Believe it or not, humans aren’t the only ones who like to indulge in a little alcohol!
After treating themselves to some fermented nectar or sap, bees, too, can feel a little buzz.
But for bees, drinking isn’t nearly as fun as it can be for humans — in fact, it doesn’t go over well with the rest of the colony at all. So what really happens when these hard-working insects let loose?
We know that alcohol comes from a lot of sources — rye, barley, or agave being some of the most popular.
But a ton of different grains, fruits, or vegetables can turn into alcohol through a process called fermentation.
This chemical process happens when yeast eats the sugars in the other ingredients and creates ethanol, the stuff that gets you drunk.
So when they’re collecting in the summer, keeping in mind that high heat can cause fermentation, there’s the slight chance they could stumble upon some fermented flower nectar.
The same thing can happen with trees. Take the lime tree for example. Honeybees love lime trees sweet, delicious sap.
In brutal summers once the sap heats up, it can easily ferment, and – Voila! You have a drunk bee.
To us, a drunk bee just looks goofy — bumping into objects or walls, refusing to fly, or even forgetting where it was going and getting lost.
With humans, this sort of behavior is common, drinking being largely socially acceptable. But in the bee world, drunkenness is strictly prohibited.
After taking a swig of some fermented sap or nectar, the drunken bee will return to it’s hive and do the waggle dance (the completely adorable way bees convey messages and communicate directions to the rest of the hive).
When a bee is drunk, it’s not hard for other members of the colony to notice it in their waggle dance.
Once spotted, the guard bees of the hive will immediately begin their investigation and punishment.
Without question, the guard bees will bite off the drunken bee’s legs, leaving it with little to no chance of survival. Pretty harsh for an accidental buzz.
By punishing the drunk bee, the guard bees remind the worker bees to never stray away from their duties to their colony.
As beekeepers, we’ve likely noticed our bees acting a bit strange after gorging on pollen They seem to stumble and stagger back to the hive, almost as if they’re drunk. This unusual behavior has led many to wonder – can bees really get intoxicated from eating pollen? In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at the science behind bee drunkenness and whether pollen truly plays a role.
A Quick Refresher on Bees and Pollen
Before diving into bee inebriation, let’s review some pollen basics. Pollen is a crucial protein source for bees. Worker bees gather pollen by brushing against flowers. The pollen sticks to the bees’ hairy bodies and legs. At the hive, they pack the pollen into cells for storage and feeding.
Pollen provides bees with amino acids and other nutrients they need to grow and develop. Young nurse bees consume large amounts of pollen to produce the protein-rich royal jelly they use to feed larvae. Forager bees also eat pollen to sustain their energy levels during long flights between flowers.
What Actually Causes Bees to Become Intoxicated?
The short answer – bees can absolutely get drunk! But it’s not the pollen that triggers it. Bees get intoxicated from drinking fermented nectar containing ethanol alcohol.
Here’s a quick science lesson on how it happens:
- Nectar contains sugars like sucrose and fructose.
- Yeasts present on flowers or bees interact with these sugars and convert them into ethanol through fermentation. This is the same process used to produce alcoholic drinks like wine and beer.
- Bees ingest this alcoholic nectar and become impaired, just as humans do when drinking alcohol.
So while pollen foraging is linked to odd bee behaviors, the pollen itself does not directly intoxicate bees.
Recognizing the Signs of a Tipsy Bee
You may notice some telltale bee behaviors that indicate intoxication
- Flying in loops and crashing into objects
- Stumbling, falling over or laying upside down
- Being rejected by guard bees at the hive entrance
- Lack of coordination and sloppiness
- Aggressive behavior (in some species)
- Wiggling legs while on their backs, unable to right themselves
In severe cases, bees may become completely immobilized by intoxication
What Conditions Promote Fermented Nectar?
Two key factors influence nectar fermentation:
Moisture – High humidity or frequent rain increases water content in nectar, allowing yeasts to thrive.
Temperature – Warmer weather accelerates the fermentation process. Ideal conditions are approximately 70-100°F.
When you see these conditions, be alert for intoxicated bees returning from pollen foraging trips.
Can Pollen Also Cause Bee Drunkenness?
While fermented nectar and honey can intoxicate bees, there is no evidence that pollen causes inebriation.
Some speculate that naturally occurring ammonia in pollen could exert mild neurological effects on bees. However, scientific research has not confirmed any impairing substances in bee-collected pollen.
If bees seem “drunk” after eating pollen, it may be explained by:
- They swallowed some alcoholic nectar while gathering pollen.
- They are experiencing a “pollen high” – bees get very excited and active during major pollen flows.
- They have trouble flying simply due to large pollen loads on their legs, not intoxication.
So while pollen foraging correlates to odd bee behaviors, the pollen itself does not directly cause drunkenness.
What Happens When Tipsy Bees Return to the Hive?
Guard bees are quick to identify incoming foragers that are flying erratically or behaving strangely. Intoxicated bees are promptly refused entry at the hive entrance.
This serves an important purpose – to protect the hive from potential dangers:
- Fermented nectar carried by a drunken forager could spoil existing honey stores if allowed inside.
- Alcohol can seriously sicken bees. Keeping drunk bees quarantined prevents contamination.
- Aggressive or impaired bees also pose a risk to hive productivity and safety.
Rejected bees typically die since they cannot return home or withstand the outside elements alone. This is why intoxication is extremely dangerous for bees.
Can Bees Become Addicted to Alcohol?
Interestingly, bees appear to develop alcohol tolerance over time, needing more nectar to become impaired. They may even prefer fermented nectar. This indicates bees can become habituated to alcohol, but addiction is difficult to demonstrate conclusively.
Their exposure is likely limited by the hive’s policing of drunk bees. If bees carried back fermented nectar consistently, the entire colony’s health would be jeopardized.
Tips for Preventing Bee Drunkenness
While we can’t control Mother Nature, here are some tips to minimize bee alcohol consumption:
- Ensure adequate water sources near the hive. Well-hydrated bees may drink less fermented nectar.
- Select nectar and pollen plants less prone to fermentation. Avoid landscape plants like overripe fruit trees.
- Harvest honey promptly to remove any alcohol before it spreads.
- If you spot intoxicated bees, try moving hives to a new foraging location.
- Monitor for humidity/rain and relocate hives if necessary during prone conditions.
The Verdict on Pollen and Bee Inebriation
The verdict is clear – pollen itself does not cause bees to become drunk or impaired. Only alcoholic nectar containing fermented sugars and yeast can intoxicate bees.
However, pollen foraging does provide opportunities for bees to encounter fermented nectar on flowers. So pollen and drunkenness are indirectly linked, even though pollen is not the direct cause.
Understanding the science and risks of bee intoxication will make you a more attentive beekeeper. You’ll be equipped to interpret odd bee behaviors and safeguard your hives from potential perils.
Your cart is empty
Log in to check out faster.
We understand honey. Because at the heart of all we do is…
Believe it or not, humans aren’t the only ones who like to indulge in a little alcohol!
After treating themselves to some fermented nectar or sap, bees, too, can feel a little buzz.
But for bees, drinking isn’t nearly as fun as it can be for humans — in fact, it doesn’t go over well with the rest of the colony at all. So what really happens when these hard-working insects let loose?
We know that alcohol comes from a lot of sources — rye, barley, or agave being some of the most popular.
But a ton of different grains, fruits, or vegetables can turn into alcohol through a process called fermentation.
This chemical process happens when yeast eats the sugars in the other ingredients and creates ethanol, the stuff that gets you drunk.
A bee’s main goal is to collect pollen and nectar from plants and trees.
So when they’re collecting in the summer, keeping in mind that high heat can cause fermentation, there’s the slight chance they could stumble upon some fermented flower nectar.
The same thing can happen with trees. Take the lime tree for example. Honeybees love lime trees sweet, delicious sap.
In brutal summers once the sap heats up, it can easily ferment, and – Voila! You have a drunk bee.
Bees act a lot like humans when they get drunk, just a lot cuter.
Their motor functioning is completely thrown off, and their memory processing is impaired.
To us, a drunk bee just looks goofy — bumping into objects or walls, refusing to fly, or even forgetting where it was going and getting lost.
With humans, this sort of behavior is common, drinking being largely socially acceptable. But in the bee world, drunkenness is strictly prohibited.
After taking a swig of some fermented sap or nectar, the drunken bee will return to it’s hive and do the waggle dance (the completely adorable way bees convey messages and communicate directions to the rest of the hive).
When a bee is drunk, it’s not hard for other members of the colony to notice it in their waggle dance.
Once spotted, the guard bees of the hive will immediately begin their investigation and punishment.
Honeybees are quite strict, and their reaction to a criminal offense is borderline medieval.
Without question, the guard bees will bite off the drunken bee’s legs, leaving it with little to no chance of survival. Pretty harsh for an accidental buzz.
This punishment serves as a warning to the rest of the hive.
Work is incredibly important to the honeybee — it’s essential to their short lives.
Indulging in slovenly behavior, accidental or not, results in assured death.
By punishing the drunk bee, the guard bees remind the worker bees to never stray away from their duties to their colony.
Bees Get Drunk With Fermented Nectar
FAQ
Why are my bees acting drunk?
This quirky phenomenon, observed around places like Parliament House in Canberra, happens because the sugary nectar turns into ethanol, affecting bees’ brains much like alcohol affects humans. These tipsy bees become clumsy foragers, struggling to navigate back to their hives.
Do bees get drunk on flowers?
Can Flowers Make Bees Drunk? Any flower containing fermented nectar can make a bee drunk. The fermentation process is most easily facilitated when the nectar contains a greater amount of water.
What causes bees to get drunk?
Bee intoxication can result from exposure to ethanol from fermented nectar, ripe fruits, and manmade and natural chemicals in the environment.
Can bees get drunk?
Bees can get drunk just like humans do. Like humans, bees are intoxicated by ethanol, the intoxicating substance in alcohol. Ethanol is formed by fermentation when yeast interacts with sugar to ferment a substance and turn it into alcohol. Bees can drink ethanol when yeast interacts with the sugars in nectar to form ethanol.
Can bees get drunk from consuming nectar in flowers?
Bees have evolved to tolerate some exposure to alcohol, and the occasional encounter with fermented nectar or flowers is not a cause for concern. Their behavior and foraging activities are not substantially influenced by the small amounts of alcohol found in flowers. Thus, the risk of bees getting drunk from consuming nectar in flowers is minimal.
Why do bees get drunk in summer?
In the summer heat, nectar will begin to ferment and create ethanol; bees that digest this fermented nectar will fall prey to the same effects we do when we consume alcohol. Tree sap like that of the Lime tree can also ferment under excessive heat leading to crowds of drunk bees. Rotting apples are also a regular culprit for bees getting drunk.
What happens if a bee is drunk?
Furthermore, drunk bees often have difficulty foraging due to their impaired motor coordination. Once a drunk bee has sobered up and is no longer carrying fermented nectar, it can be allowed back into the hive. However, a drunk bee has difficulty surviving alone in the natural world.
What happens if a bee drinks alcohol?
However, a drunk bee has difficulty surviving alone in the natural world. Furthermore, alcohol poses a danger to bees because it can contaminate their honey stores and cause them to become ill. Fermented nectar introduced into the hive and stored with other honey can cause the honey to ferment and make all the bees sick and intoxicated.
Why do bees get drunk on fermented foods?
Aside from bees, birds, bats, butterflies and even tree shrews are often seen becoming drunk on fermented foods. Flowers that bloom in late autumn or early winter are to blame for the rise in bee drunkenness. During these months, the water mixes with the sugars in the nectars, causing them to ferment.