Why do bees produce honey?

Bees produce honey as a long-term food source for their colony. During foraging, worker bees collect nectar from flowers and store it in their honey stomachs. Back at the hive, they regurgitate the nectar into honeycomb cells, where it is mixed with enzymes and dehydrated through wing fanning to create honey. This process preserves the nectar, providing a reliable energy source during winter or when food is scarce. Honey production is vital for the survival of the hive and supports their highly organised social structure.