It's not just you – even bees can get sticky when handling honey
Hydrogen bonds in sugar and water bind together to give honey its viscous, or 'sticky' properties.
Honey, which is made by the eight species of honeybee, is a viscous mixture of sugars and water. It’s stored inside honeycomb cells, which are sealed with wax until the energy-rich liquid is required to feed larvae or help adult bees survive the winter.
If the comb becomes damaged and the honey leaks out, bees can indeed become sticky and even get stuck. Bee expert Prof Dave Goulson from the University of Sussex has seen it happen, but not often. “I think they’re simply very careful when handling honey and meticulously groom off any sticky residues,” he says.
Read more:
- How do bees make honey?
- Why do bees buzz?
- If bees became extinct, what effect would this have on mankind?
- Five fascinating facts about bees
Asked by: Sofie Kearns (aged 6), via email
To submit your questions email us at questions@sciencefocus.com (don't forget to include your name and location)
Authors
Sponsored Deals
May Half Price Sale
- Save up to 52% when you subscribe to BBC Science Focus Magazine.
- Risk - free offer! Cancel at any time when you subscribe via Direct Debit.
- FREE UK delivery.
- Stay up to date with the latest developments in the worlds of science and technology.
