Across
- 2. are more than buzzing insects—they’re master communicators. When a worker bee discovers a rich source of nectar or pollen, it returns to the hive and performs a “waggle dance.” This isn’t random movement. The dance encodes precise information: the direction of the food source relative to the sun, and the distance based on the duration of the waggle. Other bees observe and decode the message, then fly off to collect the bounty.
Down
- 1. behavior was first decoded by Austrian scientist Karl von Frisch in the 20th century, earning him a Nobel Prize. His research revealed that bees use complex spatial awareness and even adjust for the sun’s movement throughout the day. It’s a stunning example of non-verbal communication in nature.
- 2. its biological marvel, the waggle dance teaches us about teamwork, efficiency, and the intelligence of creatures we often overlook. Bees may be tiny, but their social systems rival those of much larger animals—and they do it all without words.