What does the direction of the bee dance indicate about the food source?

The direction of the bee dance specifically conveys information about the location of a food source relative to both the hive and the position of the sun. When a forager bee returns to the hive, it performs a dance—commonly known as the waggle dance. The angle at which the bee dances, in relation to the vertical surface of the hive, directly indicates the direction in which other bees should fly to find the food source. If the dance is oriented straight up on the comb, it means the food source is directly in line with the position of the sun. As the angle changes, it provides precise directional guidance, allowing the worker bees to navigate accurately towards the nectar or pollen source.

This dance also conveys other types of information, such as the distance to the food source based on the duration of the waggle phase—however, the primary focus of the direction indicates where to go, taking the sun's position into account. Thus, understanding this aspect of the bee dance is crucial for interpreting how bees relay foraging information efficiently.