number 4

The bees pass honey from bee to bee, losing some moisture in the process. The honey then undergoes dehydration in the hive, where bees spread it across wax to increase surface area for evaporation. The hive is kept warm, and house bees fan their wings to increase airflow, further drying the honey. This process continues until honey reaches its familiar sticky state, with about 17-20% water content. The honey you're making loses some moisture when it is being passed from bee to bee, but then it undergoes a more intense process of dehydration before it can be safely stored. Dehydration involves the bees spreading out the honey across wax, curled in the hive that bees build for this purpose. Evaporation of water takes place more readily over the increased surface area formed in this way, especially as the bees keep the hive at quite a warm temperature, around 35 degrees Celsius. At this point too, house bees increase the airflow of the hive by fanning their wings. That increases the evaporation of water from the honey. These bees will flap their wings to create extra airflow around the cell, helping the drying process of the liquid even more until it finally reaches the sweet, sticky state of honey we are familiar with. This process continues until the viscous, sticky substance we know as honey is formed. With about 17-20% water content,