The speed of bees depends on the bees’ types and species. An average western bee flies a maximum of 31 kilometres per hour. Different types of bees have different speeds. Bees fly in different ranges. All species of bees speed discussed in this article.
How do bees fly?
Many scientists have worked on this question: how do bees fly? They all observe that bees have two wings smaller than a bee’s body but support the entire body as possible. In order to fly, bees also need to generate enough force to overcome the drag that acts against their flight. Drag is a force that opposes the movement of an object through the air and is caused by the friction between the air and the surface of the bee’s wings. To overcome drag, bees need to generate a large amount of lift, which is achieved by their rapidly beating wings. A bee beat 250 times its wings.
Direct Wings System
This system (muscles) is directly linked with wings which provide self-made movement to wings for flight.
Indirect Wings System
The indirect wings system has two pairs of muscles, anterior and posterior which are attached to the thorax. When muscles contract, the thorax provides movement.
Speed of different species of bees
Here some common types of bee speed are described below.
| Bees | Speed in miles | Speed kph |
| Honey bee | 13-20 mph | 32 kph |
| Carpenter bee | 9-22 mph | 33 kph |
| Bumblebee | 7-26 mph | 37 kph |
| Yellow bee | 7-18 mph | 30 kph |
How fast are honey bees?
When honey worker bees travel to collect pollen and nectars, their speed is less than average. That bee flies 16 miles per hour. Which is 15 kilometres per hour. If any enemies are trying to attack the in, its speed is 20 to 21 kilometres per hour. There are 950 species of honey bees in the world alone. Two hundred and forty every second, the honey bee beat his wings. This is not his fastest speed. When a honey bee beat his wing with this speed, he covered a distance of 13 miles per hour. Honey bees are faster.
African Bees
African and honey bees are the same speed, 7 to 16 miles per hour. But African bees are more dangerous than honey bees. When African bees sting anyone, they will die. This bee has more stamina than the honey bee. African bees are more aggressive because their predators are always ready to attack and destroy hives for money. This bee is also called a killer bee. They kill 1000 people. Africans are found in Africa, Texas, Canada and California.
How fast are carpenter bees?
Carpenter bee flies with a maximum speed of 9 to 22 miles per hour which is 33 kilometres per hour which is his fastest flying speed.
How fast are Yellow bees?
Yellow bees’ flying speed is 7-8 miles per hour which are 30 kilometres per hour. This bee flies the same as other bees. But a little quicker than carpenter bees.
How fast are the bumble bees?
The Bumble bee beat his wings 200 to 210 times in a second. His average speed is 7 to 26 miles per hour and 30 to 35 kilometres per hour. Bumble bees have to do many tasks, that’s why they are so fast.
Speed of queen bee
It isn’t effortless to measure a queen bee’s speed. Because he spends most of his time in the hive, some researchers observed that queen bees fly at 16 miles per hour and 20 to 21 miles out of the hive. If queen bees have less larva production, other bees kill her.
Can humans be faster than bees?
An average human speed is 13 to 14 kilometres per hour which is much slower than bees, so an average person cannot outrun bees. Bees fly at 20+kilometres per hour speed. A healthy person can run at 16 kilometres, the fastest human speed. Our capacity is sufficient for this activity. Humans cover long distances at 18 to 20 kilometres per hour.
Related Articles:
- Types of Honey Bees & Their Classifications.
- Osmia avosetta: A Beautiful Mason Bee
- Osmia Lignaria Life Cycle: From Egg to Adult Bee
House fly vs Bees
House flies are the same as bees in shape. They have the same wings and legs but different functions. Bee uses their legs to collect pollen and nectar. But fly home only for waking. Fly houses cannot store extra food for winter, even if they will die in winter. House flies eat dirty foods. They cannot produce food for humans, but bees do. House flies can fly with a speed of 5 to 6 miles per hour. Which is 70 percent less than honey bees.
Bees vs Animal speed
It is essential to learn that bees are faster for everyday activities but not faster than animals due to their small mass and weight. The average speed of a bee is 30 kilometres per hour. But the average speed of lions is 80 kilometres per hour, and cheetahs are faster, with 90 to 120 kilometres per hour.
| Animal | Average Speed (mph) |
|---|---|
| Honeybee | 15-20 |
| Cheetah | 60-70 |
| Pronghorn | 55 |
| Greyhound | 40-45 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 240-250 |
| Housefly | 4-5 |
| Horse | 25-30 |
| Hummingbird | 25-30 |
| Tiger | 35-40 |
| African Elephant | 25 |
Summary
Bees fly at different speeds in situations bees fly for food from the hive. The flight of a bee is a remarkable feat of engineering that is made possible by the unique combination of its physical characteristics, nervous system, and behavior. Whether they are collecting nectar, pollinating flowers, or returning to their hive, bees rely on their ability to fly to survive and thrive in their environment.