This is shaping up to be one of the top 5 most humid summers in Maine.  Asa and I are lucky that we can retreat indoors to cool off with air conditioners.  However, my hard working Honey Bees aren’t so lucky.  Yet as with everything else Mother Nature throws at them, these ladies have a plan on how to beat the heat.

During the summer months when nectar production is at it’s highest, the hive can get really crowded and hot with all those Honey Bees hard at work.  So to cool off they do what anyone without air conditioning would do, they head outside!  It is common on hot days to see my Honey Bees covering the outside of the hive just hanging out, which is called “bearding.”  It’s called bearding because some think it looks like a man’s beard the way they cling to the hive.  Bearding allows for extra space inside the hive to encourage better air circulation.  To help with this process, Honey Bees will also line up at the opening of the hive and flap their wings to force cooler air into the hive, while simultaneously sucking out the hot air.  To put it more blunt, it is the job of some of the Worker Bees to act like fans!

It is very important though that the Honey Bees work together to cool the hive.  The developing brood is very sensitive to heat.  The Honey Bees need to protect their young by keeping the hive between 89 degrees Fahrenheit (32 Celsius) and 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 Celsius).  To accomplish this not all of the Bees leave the hive to beard.  Biologists at Tufts University have found that some of the Nurse Bees will press their bodies near the brood and act like sponges to absorb the heat.  Adult Bees can withstand temperatures up to 122 degrees Fahrenheit (50 Celsius).  Scientists have found that the Worker Bees can safely lower the temperature for the developing brood without harming themselves, the Queen or their precious baby bees.

Also just like dogs, Bees need to stay hydrated on a hot summer day.  Like most animals, Bees are mostly made of water and need it to survive.  They also use water to cool their hives.  Therefore, in addition to sending out Honey Bees to collect nectar, there are some that it is their job to bring back water.  When they return, they pour the water into the mouths of other Bees, who in turn regurgitate the water inside the hive by spreading a thin film of water atop the sealed brood and on the rims of cells containing larvae and eggs.  The Workers then fan vigorously, setting up air flow which evaporates the water and cools the interior of the hive.  Therefore it is important for us to make sure the Bees have access to plenty of water nearby the outside the hive.  We find that our hives go through about 3 gallons of water a day!  It is also important that our hives are well ventilated.  Because between the heat generated by their wings and the extra water to cool off, we don’t want condensation building up in the hive either.

It is a delicate balance to keep the hive cool on a hot summer day, but no need to worry.  As a team effort, our ladies are prepared for anything!