What is the purpose of the Waggle Dance?

The purpose of the Waggle Dance is to indicate the location of food. This unique behavior is performed by forager bees to convey critical information about the direction and distance of food sources from the hive. The dance involves a series of movements where the bee waggles its body while moving in a figure-eight pattern. The angle of the waggle with respect to the vertical inside the hive corresponds to the angle relative to the position of the sun, helping other bees orient themselves. Additionally, the duration of the waggle portion of the dance communicates the distance to the food source, allowing other bees to effectively locate it. This sophisticated form of communication is essential for the efficiency of the hive's foraging efforts, enabling the colony to maximize their food gathering.