Forage radius

How far a colony's bees will fly to collect — commonly around three kilometres.

Bees

Definition

Honey bees typically forage within about three kilometres and will fly considerably further for a good source. This defines the landscape a honey comes from and is why organic certification for honey is difficult: nobody controls what is growing across a circle that size. Solitary bees forage over far shorter distances, sometimes only a few hundred metres.

See also

Other bees terms

Sources

Sources

  • The Biology of the Honey BeeHarvard University Press (1987) · Textbook
  • Assessment Report on Pollinators, Pollination and Food ProductionIntergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) (2016) · Systematic review Link

How sources are selected and weighted is set out in the sources and evidence policy.

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