What is a common behavior exhibited by worker bees when communicating with each other?

The waggle dance is a distinctive behavior exhibited by worker bees that serves as a method of communication regarding the location of food sources and potential nesting sites. When a worker bee discovers a rich source of nectar or pollen, she returns to the hive and performs this dance on the honeycomb.

The waggle dance involves moving in a specific figure-eight pattern while vibrating her body. The direction and duration of the waggle dance communicate the direction and distance to the food source relative to the sun. This intricate dance enables other bees to efficiently locate and exploit the resources the dancer has found, highlighting the importance of social communication within the hive.

Other behaviors, such as buzzing, guarding, and fanning, do play roles in the life of a bee colony. Buzzing can indicate excitement or serve as a warning, guarding involves protecting the hive from intruders, and fanning helps regulate the hive's temperature and humidity. However, these behaviors do not carry the same specific communicative function centered on foraging as the waggle dance does. Thus, the waggle dance is recognized as a unique and crucial aspect of how worker bees inform their peers about food sources, making it the correct choice in this context.