Honey bees get stressed at work—just like humans — Quartz
It’s not just humans. Bees get stressed at work, too.
Honey bees have to deal with predators, challenging weather conditions, and the very real risk of getting lost.
By Amélie Cabirol
Ever been overworked, tired and felt muddle-headed? Research now shows honey bees suffer from the same thing—and we understand why.
A honey bee’s life is hardly relaxing. Every day forager bees make many trips, traveling long distances, to gather vital resources of pollen and nectar from flowers. They have to deal with predators, challenging weather conditions, and the very real risk of getting lost.
Honey bee decline—known as colony collapse disorder—is a global problem. We don’t know exactly what’s happening to Australia’s bee population, but losses in New Zealand and the United States are well above sustainable levels.
The contribution of bees to the Australian economy has been valued at A$100 million ($73.6m) a year. Identifying the factors that cause stress to bees could help us manage and reduce their decline.