France, Aug. 23 -- RFI: What happens to your bees in extreme heat?

Romain Lacotte: The heat affects the colony, meaning the hive and the bees inside it. The colony needs a temperature of 35C inside the hive. When it rises above that, the bees can regulate it through ventilation. Some bees will gather at the entrance of the hive and fan their wings to create an airflow. Others will place drops of water there to create humidity, which will lower the temperature inside the colony.

RFI: Can you explain the phenomenon known as "bearding", seen in front of the hive?

RL: It's a sign that the bees are too hot inside the hive. They come outside to leave more air inside because the space between two frames is exactly the thickness of two bees. W...