Bee life
From our apiaryHoney bees
One colony, three ways of life and many tasks.
The knowledge magazine
Bee knowledge.
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Bees, flowers and honey — all in one place.
All 33 topics
Bee life
Photo: USGSBee eyes
Colours, scents and navigation.
Bee life
Photo: Bertram ReichBee sleep
Rest, memory and dances in the dark.
Bee life
Photo: Marion PhillipsWinter in the hive
How a colony stays warm and makes it through the cold season.
Bee life
From our apiaryThe waggle dance
How a flower discovery becomes a set of directions.
Bee life
From our apiaryBeeswax & comb building
A whole home grows from tiny flakes of wax.
Bee life
Photo: MigcoBee bread
From gathered pollen to food for the next generation.
Bee life
Photo: Bartosz KosiorekWater foragers
Drinking, feeding and cooling: water keeps the hive alive.
Bee life
Photo: Martin FalbisonerSmelly feet in bumblebees?
What chemical footprints reveal about flowers and finding the way home.
Flowers & diversity
Photo: OrangeaurochsWild bees
Food and suitable nesting places.
Flowers & diversity
Photo: Martin FalbisonerPollination
From a pollen grain to a seed.
Flowers & diversity
Photo: Bj.schoenmakersThe bumblebee year
An entire year begins with a queen.
Flowers & diversity
Photo: Gideon PisantyEvolution
The long story of bees and flowers.
Flowers & diversity
Photo: Janet GrahamCuckoo bees
A way of life connected to other bees' nests.
Flowers & diversity
Photo: Bertram ReichCrab spiders
A pale hunter waits where bees come to find food.
Flowers & diversity
Photo: Bertram ReichFlower constancy
Why bees often stay with one flower species during a foraging trip.
Flowers & diversity
Photo: ElkeKrebs260263The flowering calendar
What provides food from the first spring flight into autumn.
Flowers & diversity
From our apiaryBees in town & country
The landscapes bees really need.
Flowers & diversity
From our apiaryBees & climate change
What changes with heat, dry conditions and shifting seasons.
Flowers & diversity
From our apiaryHoney bees & Wild bees
Shared flowers, different needs and responsibility at the apiary.
Flowers & diversity
Photo: AiwokGround-nesting wild bees
The hidden nurseries beneath our feet.
Flowers & diversity
Photo: Björn S...The mason bee year
From the first spring flight to winter inside a cocoon.
Flowers & diversity
Photo: Ra Boe / WikipediaGood wild bee nesting aids
Materials, siting and careful maintenance for a useful nursery.
Flowers & diversity
Photo: Sandy RaeBee, wasp or hoverfly?
Wings, antennae and pollen help us take a closer look.
Flowers & diversity
Photo: SalicynaA balcony for bees
With suitable plants, a few pots become a source of flowers.
Honey
From our apiaryUnderstanding honey
How it is made, its varieties and storage.
Honey
Photo: annmteu · illustrative photographHoneydew honey & mānuka
Origins, composition and research.
Honey
From our apiaryThe honey harvest
From the ripe comb to the filled jar.
Honey
Photo: RuffianaTasting honey
A short guide to scent, flavour and mouthfeel.
Health & protection
Photo: Gilles San MartinVarroa
A closer look at a tiny parasite.
Health & protection
Photo: Charles J. SharpAsian hornet
Recognising it, keeping your distance and reporting sightings.
Health & protection
Photo: AbalgPropolis
How plant resins become part of the colony's shared protection.
Health & protection
From our apiaryWhy bees sting
What they defend, how to avoid trouble and what matters after a sting.
Our own views of life at the apiary, alongside selected expert photographs available for free use. All image credits
Explore the world of bees together ↗