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Science 21 September 1979:
Vol. 205. no. 4412, pp. 1269 - 1271
DOI: 10.1126/science.205.4412.1269
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Articles

Keeping a Cool Head: Honeybee Thermoregulation

BERND HEINRICH 1

1 Division of Entomology and Parasitology, University of California, Berkeley 94720

At high ambient temperatures, honeybees regulate head teriperature by evaporative cooling of regurgitated honeycrop contents. Thoracic temperature is secondarily stabilized as heat flows from thorax to head by means of passive conduction and physiological facilitation resulting from accelerated blood flow. The mechanism permits flight at the extraordinarily high ambient temperature of 46°C without overheating the head and thorax despite prodigious amounts of heat produced as a by-product of flight metabolism. In contrast, at low ambient temperatures, thoracic rather than head temperature is regulated; no liquid is regurgitated, and the head is heated passively by conduction both in flight and while stationary.

Submitted on April 17, 1979
Revised on June 4, 1979


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