Summary
Bees communicate the direction and distance of food using a figure-eight dance angled to the sun.
In depth
Karl von Frisch decoded it: the angle from vertical shows the direction relative to the sun, the duration of the waggle phase shows distance. Round dances signal nearby food. Dance language shows symbolic communication in insects.
Dance followers sense vibrations and odours; recruits fly out in the indicated direction. Dances for distant food are slower, with a longer waggle run. Dances also recruit for nest sites during swarming.
Key idea: it is one of the few known examples of symbolic communication in invertebrates.
Discovered by Karl von Frisch, the waggle dance informs nestmates about a rich food source. On the vertical comb, the angle of the straight waggle run relative to vertical equals the angle of the food relative to the sun; the duration of the run indicates distance, about 1 second for roughly 1 km.
Followers detect the vibrations and scent of the dancer and fly out to search. Dancers adjust for the sun's movement and dance more for better sources, so the colony allocates foragers efficiently.
Example: scouts also use a similar dance to vote for a new nest site during swarming.
Remember: it is symbolic communication in an invertebrate.
Frequently asked questions
What is Honeybee Waggle Dance?
Bees communicate the direction and distance of food using a figure-eight dance angled to the sun.
Which area of biology covers Honeybee Waggle Dance, and how advanced is it?
Honeybee Waggle Dance is one of the 53 topics in Animal Behaviour. It is rated Intermediate, so it suits learners who already know the core vocabulary. Related topics in this area include Migration Behaviour, Communication, Behavioural Plasticity and Climate.
Can you give an example of Honeybee Waggle Dance?
Bees correct for the sun's movement over time.
What should I learn before Honeybee Waggle Dance?
Work through the Beginner topics in Animal Behaviour first, such as Animal Behaviour, Innate Behaviour, Learned Behaviour, then return to Honeybee Waggle Dance. Intermediate topics assume the Beginner vocabulary.
What topics are related to Honeybee Waggle Dance?
The closest topics to Honeybee Waggle Dance are Migration Behaviour, Communication, Behavioural Plasticity and Climate, Movement Ecology. Comparing them side by side is a good way to see how the ideas connect.
How can I check that I understand Honeybee Waggle Dance?
Read the summary and the in-depth section, then use the quick check on the interactive lesson for Honeybee Waggle Dance. To practise the whole of Animal Behaviour, use the Animal Behaviour quiz.
How is Honeybee Waggle Dance different from Migration Behaviour?
Honeybee Waggle Dance: Bees communicate the direction and distance of food using a figure-eight dance angled to the sun. Migration Behaviour: Regular seasonal journeys, such as monarch butterflies and Arctic terns. Read both side by side and note what each one explains.
How should I study Honeybee Waggle Dance step by step?
First, read the summary and write the definition in your own words. Second, read the in-depth section and note any example. Third, compare it with Migration Behaviour and explain the difference aloud. Finally, take the Animal Behaviour quiz and come back to this page for any question you miss.