BETA
Chapter 1
The discovery of the code
View / Create
Answer
Chapter 2
The mechanics of the waggle
View / Create
Answer
Chapter 3
The sensory hive experience
View / Create
Answer
Chapter 4
Beyond food and democratic decisions
View / Create
Answer
YOUR GOAL
Master of The secret dance of honeybees
Ch 2 · The mechanics of the waggle
misslily Decode the waggle dance to discover how honeybees share directions to sweet nectar.
misslily Honeybee Waggle Dance
Trace the sun's direction on the vertical comb and we'll fly straight to the sweet clover
misslily Bees can calculate the sun's movement over time, adjusting their dances even inside a dark hive.
Fun Fact
Solar navigation: Even on cloudy days, honeybees can find the sun because their eyes can detect polarized light through the clouds.
Glossary
azimuth (noun)
The horizontal angle or direction of a celestial object measured from a reference point. In the 1940s, Karl von Frisch discovered bees translate the sun's azimuth into physical dance angles.
The horizontal angle or direction of a celestial object measured from a reference point. In the 1940s, Karl von Frisch discovered bees translate the sun's azimuth into physical dance angles.
Quiz
One second of a honeybee's waggle run translates to roughly how many meters of flight?
Quiz
Which part of the honeybee's body physically shakes to indicate distance during the dance?
Quiz
What kind of light can honeybees see that allows them to locate the sun on cloudy days?