Do bees sleep at night?

[Popparand]

As I understand the daily timetable of workers, they spend approx. one third of their time doing their chores, one third socialising and one third resting. But these are not eight hour shifts and they jump from one thing to another quite often. Is there any evidence that they carry on with this pattern at night? After all, most of the time there's no light at all in the hive so can they tell night from day once inside? Just asking.

 

[boywonder]

So, here's something totally anecdotal to add to the mix, and which I've not so far been brave enough to post.

On Sunday, I had a large swarm arrive into my garage (into a stack of empty supers). On Monday, it had been moved into a poly nuc in the same spot, and on Tuesday evening, I was working in the garage on a project for 3 or 4 hours, with bees all around the shop, and the box in full and constant roar...

... And then, all of a sudden (literally like turning an engine off) - maybe at about 2130 it all died down. I mean, totally ... within 2 to 3 seconds. It was quite spooky. Whether you call it "sleep" or not (let's not anthropomorphise), that's clear evidence to me of a conscious shut-down of the whole organism. Discuss!!

Sent from my Pixel 4 using Tapatalk

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

However tight you draw your curtains and put blackouts up, I'm sure if you left the front door open all night you'd notice when it was light again
although during a flow many bees delegated to honey ripening will work into the night. Foragers, for certain sleep/rest at night Tom Seeley gave an interesting talk on this, and how certain bees go around shaking the bees to wake them when it's time to get out there again.

 

[Curly green finger's]

As I understand the daily timetable of workers, they spend approx. one third of their time doing their chores, one third socialising and one third resting. But these are not eight hour shifts and they jump from one thing to another quite often. Is there any evidence that they carry on with this pattern at night? After all, most of the time there's no light at all in the hive so can they tell night from day once inside? Just asking.

Carcadian clock??

 

[gp125john]

Tom Seeley said the foragers sleep. They are shaken by other bees to wake them up when its time to go out foraging again

 

[Wingy]

Last summer I was getting home from late shifts about 0130-0200 hours. I’d sit in the garden for 1/2 hour or so just winding down & enjoying a whiskey. The sound coming from the hives was like sitting next to an electric substation, the hum was very noticeable. On some occasions there were many bees lined up near the entrance fanning. So many bees here not asleep & any that where asleep must have been wearing ear plugs

 

[Finman]

.
A study tells, that part of foragers sleep by day too. Foraging is heavy job.

 

[Bee Bumble]

https://www.honeybeesuite.com/do-honey-bees-sleep-of-course-they-sleep/