Do you ever wonder why honey (if stored properly) doesn’t generally spoil? The answer is hydrogen peroxide! The worker bees secrete an enzyme that, when mixed with the nectar they collect, creates a reaction that produces hydrogen peroxide. This results in not only food that is nutritious for the colony, but also protects it from bacteria, fungi, and even pests. Lewis Bartlett, assistant professor in the University of Georgia Department of Entomology, said, “Bees don’t know how to socially distance, but they’ve evolved other ways of keeping their society healthy. Hydrogen peroxide is just one of the ingenious tools they use to keep the hive alive.”
