Summer Bee-Havior

Yesterday afternoon, the entire front face of this hive was covered with bees. This morning, less than a quarter remained. Are these bees the last stragglers of an all-nighter? Probably not. As outside temperatures rise in the summer, the temperature inside the hive increases as well. To cool down the hive interior, bees go outside. As the temperatures decrease during the nighttime hours, many of the bees will re-enter the hive. It is kind of like your kitchen during Thanksgiving dinner preparations, when too many family members are hanging about, and you slip out onto the front porch to cool down.