What is the term for the process by which bees communicate the location of food sources?

The process by which bees communicate the location of food sources is known as the waggle dance. This intricate behavior allows for effective communication among worker bees within a hive. When a forager returns to the colony after discovering a food source, it performs the waggle dance, which consists of a series of movements. These movements indicate the direction and distance of the food source relative to the sun's position.

During the waggle dance, the bee waggles its abdomen while moving in a figure-eight pattern. The angle of the waggle run to the vertical represents the direction of the food source concerning the sun. The duration of the waggle portion conveys the distance to the food source, as longer waggles indicate further distances. This remarkable communication method enables other bees in the colony to efficiently locate and exploit food sources, ultimately enhancing the survival of the hive.

Other terms like "swarm dance," "feeding dance," and "nectar dance" do not specifically refer to this unique form of communication for locating food sources, making the waggle dance the correct term in this context.