In this month's Beekeeping Today Podcast Short with Dr. Dewey Caron, he reflects on the many ways communication connects us — from human language to honey bee behavior. Recorded following the Oregon State Beekeepers Association's annual meeting, Dewey explores communication on three lev...
In this month's Beekeeping Today Podcast Short with Dr. Dewey Caron, he reflects on the many ways communication connects us — from human language to honey bee behavior.
Recorded following the Oregon State Beekeepers Association's annual meeting, Dewey explores communication on three levels: between bee scientists and beekeepers, between beekeepers and their bees, and among bees themselves. He compares human verbal, nonverbal, and written communication to the complex systems found in honey bee societies, including the famous waggle dance and the chemical cues that govern colony behavior.
Dewey also shares new research from the University of Minnesota, which suggests that the protein vitellogenin may play a role in how colonies prepare to swarm — possibly acting as part of their "language" of reproduction. The discussion underscores how understanding bee communication helps us become better communicators as beekeepers, recognizing the cues our colonies send before swarming begins.
As Dewey reminds us, communication is a two-way street: "We need to understand what our bees are saying and better refine what we're asking of them."
Links and references mentioned in this episode:
- Klett, Katrina, Kate Ihie, Michael Simone-Finstrome and Marla Spivak. 2025. Vitellogenin plays a role in regulating honey bee swarming. Scientific Reports 15, 36569. (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-20547-z ) Note: Kate Ihir and Michael Simone-Finstrome now at USDA Baton Rouge Bee lab)
- Seeley, Thomas D. 2024. Piping Hot Bees and Boisterous Buzz Runners. Princeton Univ Press
- The Language Doctors - https://thelanguagedoctors.org/blog/language-and-communication-2/
- University of Minnesota Bee Research Lab – https://beelab.umn.edu
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