What is the "waggle dance"?

The waggle dance is a unique and intricate behavior performed by honeybees to communicate important information about food sources to their fellow hive members. Through this dance, a forager bee conveys both the direction and distance of a food source relative to the hive's location.

During the waggle dance, the bee will move in a figure-eight pattern, waggling her body during the straight portion of the dance. The angle of the waggle run in relation to the vertical determines the direction of the food source with respect to the position of the sun, while the duration of the waggle indicates the distance to the food. This remarkable communication method is crucial for the efficiency of the colony, allowing bees to quickly locate and exploit resources.

Understanding the waggle dance is essential because it highlights the complex social behavior and communication tactics that honeybees employ, which are fundamental to their survival and foraging success.