Fun Facts About Honey & Honeybees

  • 80% of the pollination of the fruits, vegetables and seed crops in the U.S. is accomplished by honeybees.
  • Honey bees have five eyes: Two large compound eyes and three ocelli.
  • Bees have been producing honey for at least 150 million years
  • Honey stored in air tight containers never spoils. Sealed honey vats found in King Tut’s tomb still contained edible honey, despite over 2,000 years beneath the sands.
  • A queen is the largest bee in the hive. During the peak of the spring to summer season she can lay up to 2,000 eggs per day which equates to twice her own body weight per day!
  • Europeans brought the European Honeybee to America in 1638. The Native Americans referred to the honeybee as the “White Man’s Flies,” because wild swarms always preceded the arrival of the white man.
  • Bees must visit approximately 2 million flowers to make 1 lb. of honey.
  • Bees have to fly over 55,000 miles to make 1 lb. of honey.
  • On average a worker bee will make 1/12 teaspoon of honey in her lifetime.
  • Two tablespoons of honey would fuel a honey bee flying once around the world.
  • Honey bees will visit between 50-100 flowers during one nectar collection trip.