Old bees collect nectar and pollen. Most bees start doing this job when they are 3-4 weeks old, and after that they age very quickly. Their bodies and wings become worn and they loose the ability to learn new things. Most food collector bees die after about 10 days.

The honey bee is one of the smartest insects. A honey bee can learn complex connections between time, odors, colors, shapes and positive or negative experiences. Honey bees can also understand numbers up to and including four.