Magneto-Bee Tracker

Honey bees can sense magnetic fields, and some researchers think magnetite in their abdomens plays a part. Whether solar activity disturbs foraging in the field is unproven. This tool is experimental, and the descriptions it shows are illustrative, not measured.

The Planetary telemetry is Active for Global Magnetosphere as of --:-- UTC

Current Kp --
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Live Geomagnetic Navigation Monitor

Kp 9: NAVIGATION COLLAPSEKp 9: COLLAPSE
Kp 8: SEVERE DISRUPTIONKp 8: SEVERE
Kp 7: MAJOR INTERFERENCEKp 7: MAJOR
Kp 6: MODERATE DRIFTKp 6: MODERATE
Kp 5: MINOR STRESSKp 5: MINOR
Kp 4: NAVIGATION CAUTIONKp 4: CAUTION
Kp 3: STABLE FLIGHTKp 3: STABLE
Kp 2: OPTIMAL NAVIGATIONKp 2: OPTIMAL
Kp 1: PERFECT CLARITYKp 1: CLEAR
Kp 0: ABSOLUTE CALMKp 0: CALM

Last 7-Day Peak Kp Readings

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Planetary K-index synchronization in progress. Please wait for the latest NOAA space weather reading.

Magnetic Trend
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24h Peak
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Navigation Impact Forecast

Analyzing geomagnetic field disturbances...

The Kp Index Explained

The Kp index measures disturbances in the Earth's magnetic field on a scale of 0 to 9. High numbers mean a geomagnetic storm. Some beekeepers watch it out of curiosity about foraging, but no study we know of has found a Kp level at which bees get lost. The labels on this page are our own rough scale.

Manuka Honey Picks

Three manuka honey jars from our price guide. These are affiliate links: if you buy, we earn a commission at no extra cost to you. New to the numbers? Read the MGO and UMF guide. Jars sold as food are not sterile and are not wound dressings.

Wedderspoon MGO 400+

Labeled MGO 400+. The lowest price per gram we found at MGO 400 or higher.

Wedderspoon MGO 400+: $41.99

Manuka Health MGO 600+

Labeled MGO 600+. Gifts. It is the MGO 600+ Extra jar packed with a gold spoon and a drawstring bag.

Manuka Health MGO 600+: $75.00

Wedderspoon MGO 850+

Labeled MGO 850+. The lowest price per gram among the MGO 800-and-up jars we compared.

Wedderspoon MGO 850+: From $79.99

Products from Wedderspoon Organic and Manuka Health New Zealand. Food-grade consumer products. Affiliate disclosure.

Scientific Basis

Researchers have shown that honey bees respond to magnetic fields in the lab and carry magnetic material in their bodies. Whether geomagnetic storms disturb bees in the field is still an open question. The Kp index is NOAA's standard planetary index of geomagnetic disturbance, updated every three hours by the Space Weather Prediction Center. This tool displays that index next to the bee navigation question, and its labels are our own scale.

  1. Gould, J.L., Kirschvink, J.L., and Deffeyes, K.S. (1978). Bees have magnetic remanence. Science, 201(4360), 1026-1028. doi:10.1126/science.201.4360.1026
  2. Walker, M.M. and Bitterman, M.E. (1985). Conditioned responding to magnetic fields by honeybees. Journal of Comparative Physiology A, 157(1), 67-73.
  3. NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center. NOAA Planetary K-index. swpc.noaa.gov/products/planetary-k-index