In the Brothers Grimm tale “The Queen Bee,” bees help the youngest brother complete the final task.
Three brothers travel through the world, but the two older brothers behave cruelly toward animals. The youngest brother, often called Simpleton, protects ants, ducks, and bees instead. Later, the brothers face three challenges in an enchanted castle, and the animals repay the youngest brother’s kindness.
The bees identify the youngest princess, who is covered by a honey coating, allowing him to choose the correct woman. Ants sort scattered grains, and ducks retrieve a key from the water. The bees therefore perform the final part of the sequence by distinguishing the right princess.
The tale was published by the Grimms as “Die Bienenkönigin.” Its moral pattern—kindness to animals leading to magical assistance—is shared with several European folktales. The queen bee is not the task’s object; she is the leader of the helpful insects.