Neighbor’s Tree ( Boca Raton, June 27, 2012)

You take an evening stroll when you spot this cluster in a tree.  It is a work of art and the bees are sleeping (contrary to myth that they never sleep). Their sleep patterns depend on age and role.  

The foragers are under a lot of stress and expend a lot of energy on their collection rounds so they need, as many older creatures do, sleep on a regular basis.  The foragers tend to sleep at night since most of their work is done during the day.  The foragers also tend to sleep on the outside of the cluster to keep any diseases or parasites out of the brood area of the hive.  

The young bees tend to sleep inside cells in the center of the hive.  They don’t have regular sleep cycles, but catch a quick nap as little as 30 seconds whenever they can.  The young bees work as cell cleaners and nurse bees.  They work in the heart of the hive.