Detailed Description

Honey bees use their dance language to tell other bees the location of flower patches. Dancing for their supper teaches viewers how to decode this dance language and how to carry out research with an observation hive.

The programme presents:

• the physical layout of the hive, including brood and honey stores

• activities of the queen and workers and the lifecycle of the bee colony form

• the ecology of flowers and the different insects that visit them

• the observation hive

• how the dance language gives directions relative to the sun’s position

• how to record the dance language and collate the data

• how to tranlsate dance data into foraging locations  

Finally, there is a 13-minute shot showing bees performing the waggle dance, which can be used to practice decoding the dance language.

This programme was devised and presented by Dr Francis Ratnieks of The University of Sheffield. It will be of particular use to teachers of biology at A-level or university, and to anyone interested in honey bees and beekeeping. 1997, 24 + 13 mins.