Step outside on a warm summer evening, and you will likely hear crickets chirping or see moths fluttering beneath those bright porch lights. But bees? Not so much. That silence often makes people wonder: Are bees active at night? And the short answer to this is no. Most are not. But the full story is far more fascinating than a simple yes or no.
My love for bees has made me spend countless hours watching bees through the seasons, and one thing I learnt is that these tiny buzzers are full of surprises. From clever ways of communicating to odd sleep positions, their lives are anything but simple. And when it comes to the night, the bee world is much more diverse than you think.
Most bees sleep after sunset
First, let’s start with what people are most familiar with—honeybees and bumblebees.
These two species are the stars of the bee world. Indispensable for many gardens and farms, both these species are not nocturnal. They follow a strict diurnal rhythm, meaning they are active during the day and rest at night. As the sun sets, they return to their hives, tuck their legs under, and rest for the night. During this restful state, their body temperature drops slightly and they become still. It is not the kind of sleep as we know it, but it gives them the rest they need to function the next day.
So, in this case, no—are bees active at night? Not honeybees and bumblebees.
Not all bees go to bed early
Nature, however, never sticks to just one template. While 99% of bee species stick to daylight, there is a rare group that functions in the dark. These are the nocturnal and crepuscular bees.
Crepuscular bees
These bees fly during the twilight, just before sunrise or just after sunset. Species like the tropical sweat bees and long horned bees, fall into the crepuscular category. They venture out when there is a bit of dim light. Usually when the moon is bright or the sun is barely below the horizon.
Nocturnal bees
Among the most intriguing nighttime flyers is the Indian Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa tranquebarica), which can be found abundantly in Southeast Asia. Unlike most bees, this one does not need any moonlight and can forage in complete darkness. It is the only known obligately nocturnal bee species, meaning nighttime is its main workday.
These species are known to love warm and tropical regions where flowers open later in the day or at night. Avoiding daylight also comes with its own set of perks, as these species face far less competition for nectar and avoid predators like birds or wasps that rest after sundown.
Indian Carpenter Bee
How do bees see in the dark?
Things get much more fascinating here. Bees have five eyes. Two large compound eyes on the sides of their heads and three smaller ones, called ocelli, in the middle. Diurnal bees use this complex vision system to navigate, find flowers and avoid threats.
But are bees active at night simply because they have better eyes? Not exactly. But it does help. Nocturnal bees have evolved larger ocelli and sometimes even larger compound eyes. These evolutionary mods allow them to collect more light and process visual information in very low light settings. Researchers believe this is the key to their ability to function after sunset.
Interestingly, studies have also shown that even these enlarged eyes don’t fully explain how some bees are able to fly on pitch-black nights. Some suspect electromagnetic sensitivity could also be playing a role, helping them navigate like a built-in GPS.
What do nocturnal bees do at night?
Like their daytime relatives, nocturnal bees are serious foragers. They collect nectar and pollen, pollinate night blooming plants and return to their nests carrying vital resources. While honeybees operate in larger colonies with thousands of individuals, many nocturnal species are solitary and live and work alone. So, are bees active at night for the same reason as day bees? Yes, but their world is much quieter, cooler and filled with different challenges.
Why don’t most bees work at night?
If some bees have figured out the night shift, why don’t the others follow suit? Here are the two most important reasons.
- Temperature: Bees are cold blooded insects. They rely on external heat to stay active. Nighttime, even in summer, brings a temperature drop that makes it harder for most bees to move efficiently.
- Light availability: Second, light availability affects vision. Without specialized eyes, flying in the dark becomes dangerous. Diurnal bees risk bumping into obstacles or getting lost. That is why artificial lighting near gardens or apiaries can confuse them.
So, while we often wonder, are bees active at night? Most simply can’t be. They are built to function under the sun.
Rare sightings and light pollution
There are cases where typical honeybees venture out after dark. It is not super common, though. But artificial light can disrupt their natural rhythm. Streetlights, greenhouse lights, or even backyard garden lights can trick their biological clock into thinking it is still daytime. These can lead to disoriented bees flying when they should be resting.
In some unfortunate situations, parasitic infections like the Zombie Fly can cause bees to behave abnormally. Infected bees may leave the hive at night and wander toward lights before dying. These cases are rare but demonstrate just how delicate and complex the bee’s internal systems are.
Female bee infected by the zombie fly parasite
Night bees and our ecosystem
So, are bees active at night? The vast majority are not. They rest when the sun goes down, storing energy for another day. But a small group does take to the skies after sunset. I have rarely spotted these night bees. Most of them are sticking to their daylight schedule. But I deeply admire the rare few who work while the world sleeps. They remind us that there is more to it than what meets the eye and worth protecting at every hour of the day.
For more fun glimpses into the world of bees, consider following my full blog here.
