Bearding: How Bees Beat the Summer Heat
To the untrained eye, bearding brings instant panic! "My bees are about to swarm!" Odds are, no. During hot, humid weather, it's common to see bees piled onto the front of their hive. While this sight has been responsible for more than a few frantic phone calls and text messages, it's usually nothing more than bees trying to stay cool. In other words, it's just bees being bees.
Why Bees Beard
Bees are highly adept at regulating the environment inside their hives. As the day warms and activity increases, the large number of bees within the hive can cause temperatures to rise to uncomfortable levels. To help cool the colony, some bees move outside and cluster on the front of the hive. This behavior, known as "bearding," immediately reduces the number of bees inside, helping to lower the internal temperature and improve airflow. At the same time, groups of bees fan their wings in unison, creating a steady convection current that draws cooler air down the front of the hive and into the entrance while pushing warmer air out. Together, these behaviors form a remarkably efficient natural cooling system that helps maintain the stable conditions the colony needs to thrive.
What You Can Do to Help
Propping up the outer cover at the front just slightly to allow airflow through the inner cover will help tremendously. Be cautious about doing this with a weak colony, as robbing may be invited through this opening.
Place popsicle sticks or toothpicks under the corners of the outer cover. This slight lift will allow airflow and give hot air a way to escape.
Provide a water source nearby for your bees. They will be using a lot of water as the summer heat continues. Water is a key component in a bee’s ability to keep the hive cool, and the closer the source, the less work they have to do to bring it back to the hive.
Provide shade if possible. If you only have a few hives, don’t hesitate to erect a canopy over them during periods of direct sun. They will appreciate it!
Moving bees to a shadier location for the heat of the summer is perfectly fine. Depending on your location and the number of hives you maintain, moving your bees into the shade can make a big difference in their ability to cool their hives.
If moving hives a short distance (from one side of the yard to the other), move them at night. Smoke the entrance and cover it with hardware cloth or even a rag for the short trip. Once in the new location, remove the travel entrance cover immediately. Leaving it in place could harm the bees by causing excessive heat buildup.
Place an object such as a branch or lawn chair directly in front of the entrance. Doing so forces the bees to reorient themselves to their new location. Also place an object, such as a hive box or block of wood, at the old hive location. This gives returning bees a place to congregate and allows you to carry them over to the new location as they build up. It takes a few days, but they do get the point eventually.
If you are moving your hive miles away, simply follow the same steps for closing the entrance. Secure the hive to the bottom board and strap the entire unit (lid, boxes, and bottom board) together with a ratchet strap for transport. Once the hive is in its new location, open the entrance immediately.
As summer heats up, the queen will slow her egg laying, so your hive will typically maintain or even decrease in population. But space is always a factor in beekeeping—too much or too little can create problems.
Swarm season is winding down and is not likely the cause of bearding at this time of year. Staying on top of hive inspections and verifying that your bees have adequate space and nutrition will help ensure a healthy, happy colony heading into fall.
By: Chari Elam