Do Bees Really Have Knees?
You have surely heard the phrase “you are the bee’s knees”? But, have you ever wondered what it means? And, what about the bees themselves – do bees actually have knees? This entertaining idiom from the early 20th century has caused many to pause and think a bit more about our bees. In this post, I will share with you some bee basics and help you decide if you can view this phrase as a positive compliment.
As a beekeeper, I am intrigued by the various parts of a bee and how their anatomy gives them the tools they need to survive. Each special feature has a purpose. They fit perfectly in nature’s plan.
The Curious Case of Bees Knees
Before we can attempt to locate an actual knee on the bee, we must consider the basic body components.
Honey bees are insects. And like all insects, they have 3 distinct body segments (head, thorax and abdomen), 3 pairs of legs (total of 6) and an external skeleton. Some insects have wings but not all do.
Keep in mind that though we are loosely using the term bees here – these same anatomical structures are present in wasps, hornets, etc. Bees and wasps are different but they same some common characteristics due to both being insects in the order Hymenoptera.
Even though they are very different from humans and other mammals, some of the structures of insects perform similar functions to ours. Your knees and elbow help you bend legs and arms to perform tasks.
Their many joints help them bend, fly and perform a multitude of tasks. All part of daily life for a bee throughout her short lifespan.
Leg Structure
Wings are great for getting from here to there – but bees could not survive without their legs. The legs of honey bees are used in many daily activities and require a wide range of motion.
Because of their many segments (joined together by muscles and tendons), bees can twist and bend in all the ways needed to construct the thousands of honeycomb cells inside the hive.
Worker bees must be agile enough to collect and store pollen, clean their antenna before flight and remove unwanted intruders and pests from the hive.
The Science Behind Bee’s Knees
In humans, the knee is the major joint in the mid-section of the leg. The knee joins the femur bone to the tibia bone. It makes bending and natural movements possible.
If you have ever had knee problems, you realize how much more difficult life is when you can’t use your knees properly.
In honey bees, we find a much more complex leg structure with more distinct segments. Before we can define the bee’s knees let’s define what a knee is.
What is a Knee?
The Merrian-Webster Dictionary includes this description of a insect knee: “the joint between the femur and tibia of an insect”.
The bee does indeed have leg segments called the femur and tibia. This confirms that bees do have a body part that is generally referred to as a knee.
The main junctions between the femur and tibia of a bee is considered the bee’s knees. Of course, they do not have a knee cap (patella) but they don’t really need one.
The Debate
Believe it or not, scientists do not always agree on how many knees bees have! You might think the obvious answer is 6 – due to having 6 legs.
The largest connector is the “emoro-tibial joint”. This is the section that bends most like a human knee and allows the lower leg and foot area to bend and move.
Some sources consider the main joint of each leg to be knee-like-so there would be 6 knees on a bee. Others feel that this term should only refer to the joint of the hind legs – resulting in only 2.
There you have it – another bee controversy that even the experts can’t agree on. The choice is yours.
The Symbolism of “The Bee’s Knees”
People love to use catchy phrases and this one has been around for a long time. When did this term come into use? What were the origins of the phrase?
Sadly, no one knows who was the first person to utter this phrase. It began in the 18th century in the Americas and was used as a prank to describe something that didn’t exist (boy were they wrong).
By the time it came into common use in the 1920’s, the meaning had changed to something positive. This was during a brief time period, when the use of silly slang terms became popular: “the cat’s pajamas”, “cat’s whiskers”, “cat’s meow” or “monkey’s eyebrows”.
FAQs
Bees knees referred to something that was extraordinary or excellent beyond compare. To have this popular bee quote expressed about you was a compliment of the highest sort.
We don’t really know if the phrase began in reference to honey bees. Some believe the colorful balls of pollen hanging on the lower section of worker bee legs were responsible for the term.
Yes, honey bees do have knees. In anatomical terms, the knee is the joint between the femur and tibia. Bees have these joints on all six of their legs.
Bees use their knee joints to bend and flex their legs, which is essential for various activities. They use their legs to walk, climb, and manipulate objects. The hind legs, equipped with pollen baskets, help in collecting and transporting pollen.
No, bees do not have a kneecap or patella. Can you have a knee without a kneecap? Experts disagree.
Final Thoughts
We could study the honey bee for thousands of years without revealing all of their secrets. Thought provoking questions like: Do bees sleep and what are the differences between bees and wasps are good topics for conversation.
At some point someone may ask you: Do bees have knees? Now you know exactly how to answer their question with a quirky comeback. Well, in fact they do – the question is how many do they have!