You don’t need a science degree to know that moths are attracted to light. But do bees behave similarly around lights or will their high-tech antennae keep them on track?.
We’ll find out if honey bees are drawn to light and other things like bug zappers in this article.
As darkness falls, you may notice bees buzzing around bright lights While this seems like strange behavior for a creature that should be sleeping after sundown, there are reasons why bees end up at illuminated areas after dark. Understanding what attracts bees to nighttime lights can help us support healthy bee populations
Bees Have Circadian Rhythms
Like humans, bees have internal circadian clocks that regulate sleep-wake cycles. Bees are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day and sleep at night. Within the hive, they follow synchronized rhythms tied to light exposure.
Foraging worker bees spend daylight hours gathering pollen and nectar As the sun sets, a hormone called melatonin rises, inducing sleep. Bees become less active and cluster together inside the hive to rest.
When morning comes, levels of melatonin decrease while other hormones rise to prepare bees for another day of foraging. Their circadian rhythms power these daily cycles of work and repose.
Artificial Light Disrupts Rhythms
Research shows that artificial light at night interferes with circadian rhythms in bees. In an experiment, bees exposed to constant light lost their normal 24-hour activity patterns within a few days.
Disrupted rhythms impaired their ability to forage and reduced the accuracy of their waggle dances, which direct other bees to food sources. Overall, the bees slept significantly less under artificial light conditions.
Urban lighting may impact bees that build hives close to illuminated streets and buildings. Nighttime glare can delay their return to the hive or keep them active longer outside the nest.
Why Bees End Up at Lights
While moths intentionally navigate toward lights, bees do not actually seek out artificial lighting. Their attraction seems to be accidental and situational.
If a foraging bee gets delayed outside the hive into nighttime due to factors like long foraging distances or cold weather, lights may catch the bee’s attention. Bright bulbs stand out against darker surroundings.
Having lost its bearings, the confused bee may perceive the light as the moon or sun. Since bees use celestial bodies for orientation, the artificial light source seems to offer direction. So the bee inadvertently flies toward the glare.
Urban bees dealing with light pollution may also misperceive illuminated areas as daylight. Expecting daytime conditions, they continue active behaviors rather than retreating to the hive.
Dangers of Light Exposure at Night
While bees do not purposefully congregate around bulbs after dark, artificial light still poses risks. Glare from fixtures provokes unnecessary nighttime activity. Active bees squander time and energy that should be spent resting.
Impaired navigation under artificial light also leads to exhaustion. A bee anxiously buzzing around a bright bulb struggles to locate its way home, wearing itself out.
Just a few nights of disrupted circadian rhythms and sleep loss cause poor health in bees. They become less efficient at foraging, reducing food storage. Weakened immunity leaves them vulnerable to parasites and pathogens as well.
Supporting Bees Near Nighttime Lights
Here are some tips to help bees stay healthy when dealing with light pollution:
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Use shielded, directed lighting that only illuminates required areas. Avoid light trespass that floods the landscape.
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Choose warmer, amber LEDs rather than cool blue-toned lights that maximize glare and disruption.
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Set motion sensors, timers, and dimmers to minimize unnecessary lighting.
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Plant night-scented flowers around hives located near lights to help orient returning foragers.
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Supplement food and provide clean water to support bees exposed to light stress.
With thoughtful lighting practices, we can prevent bees from ending up at bulbs and reduce the impacts of artificial light. Supporting healthy bee circadian rhythms improves resilience, helping maintain essential pollinator populations.
Why do bees fly towards lights at night?
Bees rarely fly toward the light because they are too busy working in the hive or taking a break after a long day of foraging. There is a chance that the Apocephalus Borealis parasite is making the bees fly toward your artificial lights.
Also known as the Zombie fly, this parasitoid phorid fly is native to North America. It lives off other insects like paper wasps, bumblebees, and honey bees.
Honey bees that have been parasitized perform uncharacteristic acts like walking around in circles and flying at night. Disorientation may also cause them to fly towards bright lights. Affected bees will die soon after.
Another reason bees might be drawn to light is if they’re swarming or bearding late at night because of bad weather. Alternatively, there may be a powerful artificial light source that confuses the bees into thinking it’s still daylight.
Are bees attracted to bug zappers?
Bug zappers and other insect traps use a UV lightbulb to attract bugs and then use electric grids to kill them. A zapper might kill a bee by drawing it in, but bees usually stay in their hives at night, so this is not likely to happen.
- Bug zapper owners don’t have to worry that their devices will kill bees.
- People who want to keep bees away should use mothballs or something else natural that bees don’t mind.
Are Bees Attracted To Light | Busy Beekeeping
FAQ
How to get rid of bees at night attracted to light?
Why are bees attracted to light at night?
What does it mean when bees come out at night?
What are the big bees that come out at night?
Are bumble bees attracted to lights at night?
Yes, large bees like bumble bees and carpenter bees may be attracted to lights at night. To prevent this, you should avoid using bright lights at night or use yellow LED bulbs instead. Both bumble bees and carpenter bees are native pollinators, and their presence benefits your local ecosystem.
Do bees sleep at night?
Bees prefer to relax or sleep at night so they’re highly unlikely to leave the security of their hive for nearby house lights or other light sources. Studies have shown that forager bees are less responsive to light at night due to their circadian rhythm. Light intensity needs to be 10,000 times higher for bees in deep sleep to react to light.
Do bees like light at night?
Studies have shown that forager bees are less responsive to light at night due to their circadian rhythm. Light intensity needs to be 10,000 times higher for bees in deep sleep to react to light. By sunset, bees prefer the security of their hive. Does blue light attract bees?
Are honey bees at night?
Honey bees, known for their vital role in plant pollination, are primarily active during daylight hours. Unlike nocturnal insects such as moths, honey bees do not exhibit an innate attraction to artificial light sources. However, certain unusual situations can alter their typical diurnal behavior. Bees at Night: Not Attracted to Light?
Are bees attracted to light?
Bees are attracted to light, like many insects. However, younger nurse bees prefer dark conditions and won’t leave the hive. Older forager bees are attracted to lights, but they head back to the hive as the sun sets so it’s likely they’ll be resting inside once bright lights become a temptation.
Why do bees eat artificial light at night?
Instead, bees have evolved to rely on natural daylight and darkness patterns to guide their forage and pollination activities, navigation, sleep cycles, and other vital behaviors. Artificial light at night can severely disrupt these rhythms to the detriment of bee colonies.