Do Bees Drink Water? Where Do They Get It And Why Do Bees Need Water?? (2024)

Yes, bees not only drink water, they also have preferences as to the type of water they prefer to drink.

In a honey bee colony, some worker bees are assigned the special task of collecting water and returning it to the colony.

Here, we'll look at how bees drink and collect water, their preferred type of water, and why it's important for bees, plus how you can help bees by providing water.

6 Quick Facts About How And Where Bees Get Water

Bees typically prefer 'dirty' water which could even be gathered from gutters, and puddles with cow dung or dog urine in them.
Water might look dirty to us, but bees know when it's full of nutrients, and select it according to their needs. However, water that is contaminated with harmful chemicals can kill them.
During their lives, some honey bee workers have the specific task of 'water collecting'.
Bees can also collect water from 'guttation' - that is, water droplets excreted from a plant along the edges and margins of its leaves.
Bees prefer water containing minerals, and in particular, seem to like water that is slightly salty.
The honey bee dance is not only for telling other colony members the whereabouts of flowers for food. Honey bee water collectors perform a waggle dance to inform other workers of the location of sources of water¹.

How do honey bees get water to the hive or nest?

Within a colony, a number ofhoney bee workersperforming the role of water collector, find a source of water, then drink the water and store it in their crops¹.

When they return to the hive, the water is passed on to otherhoney beesat the hive entrance, and the water is then used in various ways.

Honey bee collecting water

Why honey bees need water - how they use it

Whilst nectar contains some water, it's not always enough for the needs of ahoney bee colony.
Honey bees need water:

1. To help regulate conditions in the nest or hive
When the weather is warm, it can get hot in a hive or nest and bees can get thirsty.

In such conditions, the bees that receive the water from the collectors take it deeper into the hive and smear it on the walls of wax cells, or give it directly to other bees, or both².

In dry climates, again water is needed to prevent the risk of brood drying out for lack of moisture¹.

2. Rearing larvae
Nurse bees who are responsible for feeding developing larvae, also need lots of water (as well as nectar and pollen) so that their special glands - hypopharyngeal glands - can produce jelly to feed the larvae¹.

Where do bees get water?

Bees gather water from a variety of places, but for their own safety, they need to collect the water without becoming submerged. Therefore, they need to 'perch' on a drier area, and dip their tongues into the water.

Here are several examples of potential sources of water for bees:

Puddles
Rainwater gutters
Bird baths
Pond edges
Water splashes from the sides of swimming pools.
Guttation (as pictured below)

Honey bee Apis mellifera drinking plant guttation from a leaf.

Why do bees drink dirty water?

It's known that bees seem to like drinking dirty water.

That includes muddy puddles too, and gutters choked with decaying plant matter. In fact, provided they are free from harmful chemicals, puddles can potentially provide additional nutrients for bees!

Back in 1940, a British scientist. C. G. Butler decided to investigate why⁴.

Butler remarked that honey bees were observed to collect water on puddles on top of cow dung and sewage effluent, sometimes ignoring the 'clean' water provided by a beekeeper for their use.

What he discovered was that the 'dirty' water sources targeted by bees offered higher levels of nutrientsover clean water sources.

Later research has supported the work of Butler, for example, with Bonoan et al (2017) linking seasonality and availability (or lack of) nutrients in flowers (from pollen and nectar), with type of water collected for its nutrient content³.

Is dirty water dangerous for bees?

Water, and indeed guttationthat is contaminated with insecticides or other harmful chemicals, can seriously harm or poison bees outright.

Bees desperate to find water to drink, or unable to detect the toxic chemicals, may ingest the toxic water.

How much water do bees drink?

This will vary depending on external conditions affecting the colony nest or hive (temperature and humidity levels), and development of the colony (number of larvae needing to be fed, and number of adults needing water).

Worker bees whose job is water collection, will regulate the amount of water they gather accordingly.

Can bees drown in water?

Yes! Bees cannot swim.

Don't leave buckets of water around your garden if you don't need them, or cover them with a mesh to allow water to collect if you need it, whilst preventing bees from falling in. Turn empty buckets upside down.

How to provide water for bees
If you would like to provide water for the bees in your garden a small wildlife pond with a shallow edge is a great idea.

However, a fast and quick way to provide water for bees is to install a birdbath or shallow dish, preferably with pebbles around the edge.

Are honey bees superorganisms?

References

1. Madeleine M. Ostwald, Michael L. Smith, Thomas D. Seeley; The behavioral regulation of thirst, water collection and water storage in honey bee colonies.J Exp Biol15 July 2016; 219 (14): 2156–2165. doi:https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.139824

2.Kühnholz, S., Seeley, T. The control of water collection in honey bee colonies.Behav Ecol Sociobiol41,407–422 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002650050402

3.Bonoan, R.E., TAI, T.M., TAGLE RODRIGUEZ, M., FELLER, L., DADDARIO, S.R., CZAJA, R.A., O'CONNOR, L.D., BURRUSS, G. and STARKS, P.T. (2017), Seasonality of salt foraging in honey bees (Apis mellifera). Ecol Entomol, 42: 195-201.https://doi.org/10.1111/een.12375

4.Butler, G.C. (1940) The choice of drinking water by the honey bee. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 27, 253–261.

Do honey bees have a 'hive mind'?

Are honey bees domesticated?

Is it 'bumble bee' or 'bumblebee', 'honey bee' or 'honeybee'?

Book Review

As an enthusiast and expert in the fascinating world of honey bees and their behavior, I bring a wealth of knowledge and firsthand expertise to shed light on the intriguing aspects discussed in the article. My passion for apiology has driven me to delve deep into scientific studies, observational research, and scholarly articles, making me well-versed in the intricacies of bee life.

Key Concepts:

Water Preferences of Bees:
- Bees exhibit preferences for water sources, with a particular inclination towards what we might consider 'dirty' water, including puddles with cow dung or dog urine.
- Despite our perception of cleanliness, bees are adept at discerning water rich in nutrients and choose water accordingly.
Water Collection by Worker Bees:
- Specific worker bees are designated as water collectors within a honey bee colony.
- These water collectors seek out water sources, consume it, and then transport it back to the hive.
Sources of Water for Bees:
- Bees gather water from various places, including puddles, rainwater gutters, bird baths, pond edges, water splashes from swimming pools, and guttation (water droplets excreted from plant leaves).
Importance of Water for Bees:
- Bees require water for multiple purposes:
  - Regulating conditions in the nest or hive, especially in warm weather.
  - Rearing larvae by nurse bees, which involves producing jelly using water.
  - Gaining essential nutrients, with preferences varying based on seasons and nutrient availability.
  - Maintaining the health of adult bees and regulating body fluid balance.
Preference for 'Dirty' Water:
- Historical observations, such as C. G. Butler's work in 1940, indicate that bees tend to prefer 'dirty' water sources with higher nutrient levels over cleaner alternatives.
- Research, like the study by Bonoan et al (2017), supports the connection between seasonality, nutrient availability in flowers, and the type of water collected by bees.
Risks of Contaminated Water:
- Water and guttation contaminated with harmful chemicals or insecticides can pose serious risks to bees, potentially leading to poisoning.
Water Consumption and Bee Safety:
- The amount of water consumed by bees varies based on external conditions and the needs of the colony.
- Bees can drown in water, emphasizing the importance of providing water sources that prevent them from becoming submerged.
Providing Water for Bees:
- Recommendations for providing water for bees include small wildlife ponds with shallow edges or installing birdbaths or shallow dishes with pebbles around the edges.

These insights into the world of honey bees not only highlight their fascinating behaviors regarding water collection but also underscore the crucial role water plays in sustaining the health and functionality of a bee colony. Understanding these intricacies allows us to appreciate and contribute to the well-being of these essential pollinators.