The chemistry of honey, pollen baskets and… bee bread?

As the temperatures warmed and plants began to bloom in the UK, it coincides as it always does with the awakening of the bees. As I watched them fly from flower to flower and get dusted with pollen, I noticed what looked like little saddlebags on their hind legs. Curious, I began researching more on these little pollinators and as I did so this post grew from a relatively short dive about the bags (called corbiculae) and into a deep dive on “bee bread”, how honey is made, what they use it for, and more.

The humble honeybee’s hidden dance capabilities

Have you ever wondered how bees communicate with each other? Would you believe me if I told you it was through the medium of interpretive dance? No, I am not joking, and I would love to explain how these incredible little creatures waggle their way through life.