How Bees Keep Their Cool When the Heat Is On

So you think you’re sweltering? Imagine living in a space no bigger than a beehive, packed in with 20,000 of your closest friends. Oh, and don’t forget, you're wearing a down coat while summer temperatures are cranking up. Now that’s a real hot mess.

When the mercury starts rising, humans have their ways to chill out. Turns out, bees do too, and their methods are pretty impressive.

Honeybees: The Hive’s Heat Management Experts

Crammed together by the thousands inside their hive, honeybees need to pull out all the stops to stay cool and protect their future generations that are maturing in those cozy hive cells.

So, what’s a honeybee to do? For starters, they get out of dodge. On particularly sweltering days, up to half the hive will make a mass exodus to reduce the collective body heat.

If that doesn’t quite cut it, they engage in what is called “social ventilation.” Picture this: bees lining up at the hive entrance, flapping their wings in unison to create air velocities of over 6 feet per second. It’s quite a breeze; you can actually feel the draft if you put your hand in front of a hive.

The Water-Collection Bees: The Hive’s Hydration Heroes

But what happens when all that does is bring in more hot air? It’s time for the real pros: the water-collection bees. These seasoned veterans are trusted with the vital task of bringing in water to cool the hive.

How do they know it’s time to step up? According to Seeley and his team, they get the memo from other bees begging for water. A little antenna tap and tongue touch from a pleading bee, and they’re off on a crucial mission.

With their proboscis, these bees scoop up water, storing it in their honey sac. It’s a speedy operation, taking just around 60 seconds to load up. Each bee can carry about 50 micrograms of water—80% of her body weight, making her abdomen look like she’s had one too many tacos. Despite this, she’s only transporting about a quarter of a drop of water per flight. But she doesn’t stop; it’s flight after flight for the hive’s survival.

Back at the hive, specialized spreader bees take over. They absorb the water and then spread it over the brood cells, creating a thin, cooling film that evaporates and cools the hive. Once the begging subsides, the water-collecting bees finally get a well-deserved break.

How You Can Help

If you want to lend a hand on those scorching days, here’s a simple tip: set up a water source with a drip from a hose or a dish with something floating in it. This prevents bees from drowning while they cool off.

So next time you’re melting in the summer heat, spare a thought for the bees and their epic battle against the heat. They’ve got it all under control—one flight and one drop of water at a time.

Kevin Woods // Creative Director & Beekeeper