The Bee is a neutral mob in Minecraft, introduced in version 1.15 as part of the Buzzy Bees update. Bees contribute significantly to the ecosystem of the game by pollinating flowers and helping crops grow faster. They are one of the few mobs in Minecraft with a focus on environmental interaction rather than combat.
Bees are known for their buzzing sound and their charming, blocky design. Players can farm bees for honey and honeycomb, making them valuable for both decorative and survival purposes.
Supported Platforms and Support Version
Platform | Supported Version |
---|---|
Java Edition (PC/Mac) | 1.15 and later |
Bedrock Edition (Windows 10, Pocket Edition) | 1.14.0 and later |
PlayStation Editions | PS4: 1.91 and later |
Xbox Editions | Xbox One: 1.14.0 and later |
Nintendo Switch | 1.14.0 and later |
Note: Bees can be farmed more easily in Bedrock Edition due to slightly different AI behaviors compared to Java Edition.
Background of the Bee
Attribute | Description |
---|---|
Hostility Level | Neutral |
Health Points | 10 (5 hearts) |
Where to Find | Plains, Flower Forest, Sunflower Plains |
Weapon | Stinger (natural) |
Attack Method | Melee (sting) |
Drops | None naturally; honey and honeycomb are collected from beehives |
Experience Points | 1–3 XP |
Special Skills | Pollination, Crop acceleration, Produces honey and honeycomb |
Hostility Level
Bees are neutral. They will not attack players unless provoked, such as being hit or if a beehive is harvested without using a campfire to calm them.
Health Points
Bees have 10 health points (5 hearts). They can die from environmental hazards or after stinging a target, which causes them to lose their stinger and take damage over time.
Where to Find Bees
Bees spawn in the following biomes:
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Plains
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Flower Forest
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Sunflower Plains
They naturally generate near bee nests, which appear on trees in these biomes.
Weapon
Bees use their natural stinger as a weapon.
Attack Method
When aggravated, bees perform a melee sting attack.
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The sting applies Poison effect for 10 seconds (on Normal difficulty).
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After stinging, a bee will die within a minute as it loses its stinger.
Behavior
Bees follow a simple yet fascinating behavior pattern:
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Collect pollen from flowers and return to a bee nest or beehive.
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Pollinated bees can accelerate the growth of nearby crops.
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Bees are diurnal; they return to their hive or nest at night or during rain.
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If aggravated, bees will swarm the player or mob responsible.
Drops
Bees do not drop items directly upon death.
Players can obtain:
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Honey by using bottles on full beehives/nests.
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Honeycomb by using shears on full beehives/nests.
Experience Points
Killing a bee yields 1–3 XP orbs.
Special Skills
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Pollination: Bees pollinate crops, speeding up their growth.
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Honey Production: Bees produce honey inside hives and nests.
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Crop Boosting: Pollinated bees cause a crop growth tick each time they fly over farmland.
Spawn Eggs
Bees can be spawned using the Bee Spawn Egg, available in Creative mode.
Things to Do with Bees
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Honey Farm: Automate collection of honey bottles and honeycomb.
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Crop Farming: Utilize bee pollination to increase crop yields.
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Aesthetic Builds: Decorate with beehives in themed gardens.
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Breeding: Breed bees with flowers to expand your bee population.
Commands for Bees
Example command to summon a bee:
/summon minecraft:bee ~ ~ ~
/give @p minecraft:bee_spawn_egg 1
Spawn Events for Bees
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Naturally spawn during world generation attached to bee nests on trees in the appropriate biomes.
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Additional bees can be bred by feeding flowers to existing bees.
Bee Fun Facts
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Bees will remember the location of their hive and the nearest flowers.
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Bees can carry pollen on their bodies, which visually changes their appearance.
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Bees will avoid water and cannot fly in the rain.
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Baby bees grow faster if fed flowers.
Advanced Tips for Farming
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Place a campfire under beehives/nests to safely harvest honey and honeycomb without angering bees.
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Use dispensers with glass bottles or shears to automate honey collection.
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Breed bees indoors to protect them from environmental hazards.
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Keep multiple flowers near hives to optimize pollination cycles.
How Bees Interact with Other Game Mechanics
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Villagers: Bees do not interact directly with villagers.
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Redstone: Redstone comparators can detect the honey level of a beehive/nest.
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Crops: Bees indirectly boost crop growth through pollination.
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Campfires: Used to pacify bees during harvesting.
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Leads: Bees can be leashed to move them to a desired location.