{"id":3626,"date":"2023-08-28T04:18:56","date_gmt":"2023-08-27T20:18:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/?p=3626"},"modified":"2023-09-19T20:10:28","modified_gmt":"2023-09-19T12:10:28","slug":"do-bees-have-knees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/do-bees-have-knees\/","title":{"rendered":"Do Bees Have Knees?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Yes, bees have knees. Their knees are the joints in their legs between the tibia and femur. However, their knees aren\u2019t the same as ours. They don\u2019t have internal bones and thus don\u2019t have patellas or kneecaps.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this article, we\u2019ll learn more about bee knees as we discuss the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>What are knees?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Human vs bee knees<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bee leg anatomy<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Functions of bee knees<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"536\" src=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/do-bees-have-knees-1024x536.jpg\" alt=\"do bees have knees\" class=\"wp-image-3628\" srcset=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/do-bees-have-knees-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/do-bees-have-knees-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/do-bees-have-knees-768x402.jpg 768w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/do-bees-have-knees.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/doundounba\/42344369972\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/doundounba\/42344369972\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">&#8220;Solitary Bee on Tiny Blue Flower (#1)&#8221;<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/2.0\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">(CC BY-NC-SA 2.0<\/a>) by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/people\/doundounba\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/people\/doundounba\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Doundounba<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_63 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/do-bees-have-knees\/#What_are_Knees\" title=\"What are Knees?\">What are Knees?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/do-bees-have-knees\/#Human_Knees_vs_Bee_Knees\" title=\"Human Knees vs. Bee Knees\">Human Knees vs. Bee Knees<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/do-bees-have-knees\/#Bee_Leg_Anatomy\" title=\"Bee Leg Anatomy\">Bee Leg Anatomy<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/do-bees-have-knees\/#Functions_of_Bee_Knees\" title=\"Functions of Bee Knees\">Functions of Bee Knees<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/do-bees-have-knees\/#Related_Questions\" title=\"Related Questions\">Related Questions<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/do-bees-have-knees\/#How_Many_Knees_Do_Bees_Have\" title=\"How Many Knees Do Bees Have?\">How Many Knees Do Bees Have?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/do-bees-have-knees\/#What_Does_the_Phrase_%E2%80%9CBees_Knees%E2%80%9D_Mean\" title=\"What Does the Phrase \u201cBee\u2019s Knees\u201d Mean?\">What Does the Phrase \u201cBee\u2019s Knees\u201d Mean?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/do-bees-have-knees\/#Do_Bees_Have_Ankles\" title=\"Do Bees Have Ankles?\">Do Bees Have Ankles?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/do-bees-have-knees\/#What_is_a_Bees_Knees_Cocktail\" title=\"What is a Bee&#8217;s Knees Cocktail?\">What is a Bee&#8217;s Knees Cocktail?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/do-bees-have-knees\/#Summary_Do_Bees_Have_Knees\" title=\"Summary: Do Bees Have Knees?\">Summary: Do Bees Have Knees?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_Knees\"><\/span>What are Knees?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Before everything else, we need to understand and define knees. Here\u2019s the definition of knees from the dictionary: [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/knee\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/knee\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">1<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>A:<\/strong> a joint in the middle part of the human leg that is the articulation between the femur, tibia, and patella.<br><br>Also: the part of the leg that includes this joint<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>B:<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>(1): The joint in the hind leg of a four-footed vertebrate that corresponds to the human knee<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>(2): The carpal joint of the foreleg of a four-footed vertebrate<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>C: <\/strong>The tarsal joint of a bird.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>D:<\/strong> <strong>The joint between the femur and tibia of an insect.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Bees are insects. <\/strong>Thus, from the definition alone, we can confirm that bees have knees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Human_Knees_vs_Bee_Knees\"><\/span>Human Knees vs. Bee Knees<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Per the dictionary definition, both humans and bees have knees. These knees are <strong>similar in that they join together the tibia and femur.<\/strong> They allow bees to bend their legs and navigate tight spaces, just like humans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, apart from this similarity, they couldn\u2019t be further alike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bees are invertebrates. They don\u2019t have internal bone structures like us. Instead, they have exoskeletons that shape and support their bodies. This means that<strong> bees don\u2019t have patellas or kneecaps<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bee knees are simpler than ours. They<strong> don\u2019t have bone structures like tendons or ligaments<\/strong>. Instead, their knees and other leg segments are divided by simple ball-and-socket joints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Bee_Leg_Anatomy\"><\/span>Bee Leg Anatomy<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The structure of bees&#039; legs\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/uBUq1hmbtPE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Bee legs consist of <strong>5 main segments<\/strong>. These segments are the coxa, trochanter, femur, tibia, and tarsus. The bee tarsus is further divided into 5 subsegments called tarsomeres. These include the basitarsus, pretarsus, and 3 more tarsomeres. [<a href=\"https:\/\/entnemdept.ufl.edu\/molecrickets\/mcri0045.htm#:~:text=Insect%20leg%3A%20Legs%20of%20insects,claw%20or%20pair%20of%20claws.\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/entnemdept.ufl.edu\/molecrickets\/mcri0045.htm#:~:text=Insect%20leg%3A%20Legs%20of%20insects,claw%20or%20pair%20of%20claws.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These divisions are listed according to distance from the body. Meaning the coxa is closest to the thorax.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Bee knees are between the femur and tibia. These are the 3rd and 4th segments and are generally the largest segments of the leg.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"536\" src=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/do-bees-have-knees-2-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3629\" srcset=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/do-bees-have-knees-2-1024x536.png 1024w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/do-bees-have-knees-2-300x157.png 300w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/do-bees-have-knees-2-768x402.png 768w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/do-bees-have-knees-2.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Functions_of_Bee_Knees\"><\/span>Functions of Bee Knees<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As with other joints, bee knees allow for <strong>flexibility and movement<\/strong>. For instance, they let bees bend their legs and navigate tight spaces. It helps them crawl on flowers and their tight beehives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>range of movement<\/strong> that their knees provide also helps with the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Pollen collection<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Honeycomb construction<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Grooming<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Related_Questions\"><\/span>Related Questions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"536\" src=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/which-animals-are-related-to-ants-3-1024x536.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3510\" srcset=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/which-animals-are-related-to-ants-3-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/which-animals-are-related-to-ants-3-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/which-animals-are-related-to-ants-3-768x402.jpg 768w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/which-animals-are-related-to-ants-3.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image by <a href=\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/users\/francok35-631285\/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=795317\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">FRANCO PATRIZIA<\/a> from <a href=\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/\/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=795317\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Pixabay<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Many_Knees_Do_Bees_Have\"><\/span>How Many Knees Do Bees Have?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Bees have 6 legs, and therefore, <strong>6 knees<\/strong>. Each leg has one knee joint between the tibia and femur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Does_the_Phrase_%E2%80%9CBees_Knees%E2%80%9D_Mean\"><\/span>What Does the Phrase \u201cBee\u2019s Knees\u201d Mean?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The phrase \u201cbee\u2019s knees\u201d means something is <strong>excellent or of high quality<\/strong>. For example, you may say \u201cHave you seen my new phone? I think it\u2019s the bee\u2019s knees.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The exact origin of the phrase is unknown. However, many believe it to have been coined by cartoonist Tad Dragan during the 1920\u2019s. It likely arose as an imitation of other animal-related phrases. The same person is said responsible for coining &#8220;the cat&#8217;s pajamas&#8221;, and possibly for &#8220;hot dog&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some people also believe that the phrase is simply a corruption of the word business. [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/notesandqueries\/query\/0,5753,-19782,00.html\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/notesandqueries\/query\/0,5753,-19782,00.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">3<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_Bees_Have_Ankles\"><\/span>Do Bees Have Ankles?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The tarsus or 5th segment of the bee leg is referred to as the foot. <strong>Hence, the joint between the tibia and the tarsus may be considered an ankle.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_a_Bees_Knees_Cocktail\"><\/span>What is a Bee&#8217;s Knees Cocktail?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The Bee\u2019s Knees is a Prohibition-era cocktail made of gin, lemon juice, and honey.<\/strong> It\u2019s an extension of the classic Gin Sour (gin, lemon, sugar) that features honey instead of sugar. [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.liquor.com\/recipes\/bees-knees\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.liquor.com\/recipes\/bees-knees\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">4<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Summary_Do_Bees_Have_Knees\"><\/span>Summary: Do Bees Have Knees?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To summarize, yes bees have knees. By definition, these knees are the joints between their femurs and tibias. Like ours, their knees allow for flexibility and movement. They help bees navigate, collect pollen, and groom themselves.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Yes, bees have knees. Their knees are the joints in their legs between the tibia and femur. However, their knees aren\u2019t the same as ours. They don\u2019t have internal bones and thus don\u2019t have patellas or kneecaps.\u00a0 In this article, we\u2019ll learn more about bee knees as we discuss the following: What are Knees? Before&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3628,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3626"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3626"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3626\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3675,"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3626\/revisions\/3675"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3628"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3626"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3626"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3626"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}