What is one reason why bees cap honey cells?

Bees cap honey cells primarily to protect honey from pests and diseases. When honey is fully ripened and has a low moisture content, bees seal it with a layer of wax. This capping serves several vital functions; one of the most crucial is safeguarding the honey from potential contaminants. Uncapped honey is more vulnerable to fungal infections, bacteria, and other pests that could spoil the food source. Capping creates a controlled environment that helps maintain the honey's quality over time, ensuring that it remains a viable and nutritious food source for the colony, especially during periods of food scarcity.

While the other choices touch on various aspects of hive management, they do not highlight the primary purpose of capping honey. For example, preventing rain from entering the hive is not a function of capping honey, as bees manage hive entrance design to control moisture and entrance size effectively. Attracting more worker bees and regulating hive temperature are functions influenced by comb structure and hive management but are not directly related to the capping of honey cells specifically.