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Here’s what triggers giant honeybees to do the wave

New findings help explain what visual cues set off ‘shimmering’ in open-nesting bees

photo of giant honeybees packed close together in an open nest

Giant honeybees form open nests uncovered by other materials and “shimmer” when some predators come near. A study is revealing new details about what sets the bees in motion.

Backiris/iStock / Getty Images Plus

By Ananya

- More than 2 years ago

Giant honeybees send waves rippling across their open nests by flipping their abdomens upward in coordination, a sight that approaching predators seem to shy away from.