Bearding

Definition

A thermoregulation behaviour: leaving the nest reduces both the heat generated inside and the crowding, making the colony easier to cool. It is frequently mistaken for swarming. A beard goes back inside when the temperature falls; a swarm departs.

Guide records that discuss this

• How bees regulate hive temperatureA honey bee colony holds its brood nest between 34 and 35 °C year-round, in climates ranging from Siberian winter to Australian summer. It does this with shivering, fanning and evaporative cooling, and the precision matters.