Darwin's Amazing Animals
Job Hopping and Majority Rule ― Japanese Honeybee
S7 • E5 May 6, 2023
What keeps a hive of 10,000 Japanese honeybees buzzing with activity? Not the queen. The female worker bees are in charge, assuming multiple tasks and risky undertakings in the name of majority rule. All participate in the construction of the hexagonally-shaped honeycomb cells, collection of nectar and pollen, and the search for new homes for future generations. To better understand the short 30-day life of a honeybee, the Darwin team pays a visit to the experts: a high school bee-keeping club!