Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => REPRINT ARTICLE ARCHIVES => Topic started by: Understudy on January 20, 2007, 08:46:57 am

Title: Bumblebees have Superintendents
Post by: Understudy on January 20, 2007, 08:46:57 am

http://www.livescience.com/animalworld/070119_bumblebee_warm.html (http://www.livescience.com/animalworld/070119_bumblebee_warm.html)

I didn't realize that most bumblebees are cold blooded.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

Title: Re: Bumblebees have Superintendents
Post by: Cindi on January 20, 2007, 11:24:33 am

Brendhan.  Now that was an interesting site.  Where on earth do you get your hands on all this stuff.  You post pretty interesting subjects for sure.  I don't read all of them, but most I would say.  Great day.  Cindi

Title: Re: Bumblebees have Superintendents
Post by: Michael Bush on January 20, 2007, 01:22:56 pm

All bees are kind of warm blooded and kind of cold blooded.  A group of bees can dislocate their wings and shiver the wing muscles to generate SOME heat.  They can't generate enough heat to keep them selves warm with the temperatures much under 50 F though because their muscles stop working after they get too cold.  So are bees warm blooded?   You don't have to shiver to stay warm unless you get really cold and you can maintain your own body temperature down to a very low outside temperature.  A bee can't do any of those things but the cluster can stay warm down to very cold outside temperatures (even though an individual can't).

The division of labor sounds interesting in a Bumble bee nest.

Title: Re: Bumblebees have Superintendents
Post by: Cindi on January 20, 2007, 07:51:38 pm

Quote from: Michael Bush on January 20, 2007, 01:22:56 pm

All bees are kind of warm blooded and kind of cold blooded.  A group of bees can dislocate their wings and shiver the wing muscles to generate SOME heat.  They can't generate enough heat to keep them selves warm with the temperatures much under 50 F though because their muscles stop working after they get too cold.  So are bees warm blooded?   You don't have to shiver to stay warm unless you get really cold and you can maintain your own body temperature down to a very low outside temperature.  A bee can't do any of those things but the cluster can stay warm down to very cold outside temperatures (even though an individual can't).

The division of labor sounds interesting in a Bumble bee nest.

Wow Michael.  Now that is some interesting information.  I would like to learn more about this aspect of the honeybee.  The thought that they have the ability to dislocate their wings is astounding!!!  Great day.  Cindi