Do bees sleep at night?

Bees take brief naps throughout the day and sleep for longer periods at night. A sleeping bee can be spotted by checking for drooping antennae. Scientists believe that sleep deprivation negatively affects the memories of bees.

Over 20,000 species of bees exist. As members of the order Hymenoptera, bees are closely related to ants and wasps. Bees feed on nectar and pollen. Nectar provides for most of the energy needs for a bee, while pollen is a source of protein and other nutrients. Only a few species of bees produce honey. Predators of bees include the kingfisher, beewolf and dragonfly.