Keeping Cool!

It's been a hot week, but the bees aren't sweating the weather!

I went out to the hives today to check in on how the bees are doing.  With the heat index creeping upward of 100 degrees F, it's important to not just check on the health of the hive, but also how the hive is handling the heat.

Bees keep their hive at around 95 degrees F.  In order to help them do this, beekeepers should place a hive near a source of water.  At our DCCG bee location, we have a small stream.  If you don't have access to a local body of water, a birdfeeder makes a good substitute!

When it gets hot in the hive, you might notice something called "bearding":

(Pictured: bearding on the first hive, summer 2015)

Bearding is not a cause for concern and it doesn't mean the hive is going to swarm (split in half and leave to form a new hive).  It just means the bees need a little more space to keep cool.

If you are interested in learning more about bee bearding, there is a great hands on opportunity to connect with the bees:

(Just kidding.  This looks terrifying to me.)

Could your beard use some extra beeswax?  Would you run away from this as quickly or more quickly than me?  Do you have any other questions about how bees keep cool?  Maybe you've seen a worker gathering water from a puddle or kiddie pool in your yard.  Share your stories, questions, or comments below!