How do honey bees perceive sound?

Honey bees perceive sound primarily through their antennae, which are sensitive to vibrations in their environment. The sensory receptors on the antennae can detect sound vibrations that travel through the air or substrate. This ability allows bees to sense various sounds, including the buzzing of other bees, which is crucial for communication within the hive and during foraging.

While bees do have compound eyes that help them see, and some insects possess specialized structures to hear, honey bees primarily rely on their antennae for sound perception. They do not have traditional ear structures like mammals, nor do they vocalize in a way that would require hearing in the manner known in other species. Thus, the use of antennae for sensing vibrations firmly establishes the primary mechanism by which honey bees perceive sound.