THERMOGRAPHY: You Can See Inside

摘要

Honey bees are among the very few insects that produce body heat. This is a result of the digestion of honey (sugars) that release thermal and chemical energy through oxidation (burning). The evolution of honey bees suggests that increased honey stores provided more heat - for longer periods of time - allowing migration to regions of high elevation, cooler average seasons, and longer winters.Honey bees uniquely regulate their body heat individually and collectively. Each bee produces its body heat by flexing, pulsing and shivering its wing muscles. This heat is then dispersed through the colony cluster by rotating waves of bees moving over,into and out of the surface of the cluster. Well provisioned colonies would survive the dearth period permitting the queen another season. Evolving in this way honey bee queens have developed longer life spans, and are currently estimated to average five - six years.