Heat Shielding: A Novel Method of Colonial Thermoregulation in Honey Bees |
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Authors: | Philip T Starks David C Gilley |
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Institution: | (1) Section of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA, 14853-2702, US |
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Abstract: | Honey bees, Apis mellifera, maintain constant colony temperatures throughout the year. Honey bees fan their wings to cool the colony, and often spread
fluid in conjunction with this behavior to induce evaporative cooling. We present an additional, previously undescribed mechanism
used by the honey bee to maintain constant colony temperature in response to localized temperature increases. Worker bees
shield the comb from external heat sources by positioning themselves on hot interior regions of the hive's walls. Although
honey comb and brood comb were both shielded, the temperature-sensitive brood received a greater number of heat shielders
and was thus better protected from overheating. Heat shielding appears to be a context-dependent adaptive behavior performed
by worker bees who would previously have been considered "unemployed."
Received: 16 November 1998 / Accepted in revised form: 31 March 1999 |
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