Bees miss out on sleep if they are exposed to light at night

Honeybees exposed to continuous artificial light get much less sleep, and this may affect their ability to pollinate plants

By Jason Arunn Murugesu

3 August 2023

Loss of sleep may affect bees’ ability to pollinate flowers

Azur13/Getty Images

Honeybees sleep less when they are exposed to artificial light at night, which could affect their ability to communicate and pollinate plants.

“Just like humans, honeybees need sleep,” says James Nieh at the University of California, San Diego. For example, honeybees that haven’t slept are less precise at performing the waggle dance – a sequence of movements that tells other bees where to find nectar-rich flowers.

Honeybees don’t sleep over a single period like humans, but take naps throughout the day and night instead. Unlike other insects, they …

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