méhkolónia

A méhkolónia, or bee colony, is a highly organized social structure composed primarily of female honey bees and a single queen bee. The colony functions as a superorganism, with individual bees performing specialized roles for the survival and reproduction of the entire group. The primary inhabitants are the queen bee, responsible for laying eggs; the worker bees, which are sterile females that carry out all tasks within and outside the hive; and drones, which are male bees whose sole purpose is to mate with a queen.

The life cycle of a colony is intricately tied to the queen. She can live for several years, producing thousands of eggs daily. Worker bees are the backbone of the colony, their roles changing as they age. Young workers tend to the brood, clean the hive, and process nectar. As they mature, they become guard bees, undertaking foragers, or builders. Drones are produced seasonally, typically in spring and summer, and are expelled from the hive before winter to conserve resources.

Communication within a méhkolónia is sophisticated. Bees use a combination of chemical signals (pheromones) and physical movements, such as the waggle dance, to convey information about food sources, potential dangers, and hive needs. Colony reproduction occurs through swarming, where the old queen departs with a portion of the worker bees to establish a new colony, leaving behind a new queen to take over the original hive. This remarkable social organization allows honey bees to thrive and play a crucial role in pollination.