What process do bees use to convert nectar into honey?

The process by which bees convert nectar into honey primarily involves enzymatic conversion and evaporation. When bees collect nectar from flowers, they store it in their honey stomach, where it begins to undergo initial changes. The bee's saliva contains enzymes, such as invertase, which break down the sugars in the nectar—mainly sucrose—into simpler sugars like glucose and fructose. This enzymatic activity is crucial as it transforms the nectar into a more digestible and stable substance, which is essential for the long-term storage of honey.

After the enzymatic conversion, the bees regurgitate the nectar and spread it throughout the honeycomb cells. Here, the water content of the nectar, which can be as high as 80%, is reduced through evaporation. The bees fan the honeycomb with their wings, promoting airflow and further speeding up the evaporation process. As the water content decreases, the nectar thickens and ultimately transforms into honey, which has a moisture content of about 17-20%. This honey then becomes a vital food source for the bees, especially during winter.

The other processes mentioned, such as filtration and drying, heat and fermentation, or condensation and crystallization, do not accurately represent how bees biologically process nectar into honey. While