It can get too hot in a hive for bees when we have very high temperatures in summer, the bees create their own air conditioning to stop them from overheating. Often because there are too many bees in the hive, to cool It down a group of bees will leave the hive and hang around on the front by the entrance, this is what we call a beard of bees.
The inside bees take water into the hive from nearby water sources and then flap their wings to evaporate the water, this then helps to cool the hive. Bees are incredibly efficient at regulating hive temperatures whether it be the middle of summer or the middle of winter. Although neither of these images are of bees actually bearding it gives you an idea of how they are on the front of the hive.
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