Can a Cluster of Bees Generate Sufficient Heat During Winter to Overheat 
Themselves?

An article titled:
“On The Temperature of the Bee-Hive in Winter”
appeared in Sharpe's London Magazine in 1847, which
suggests bees can generate sufficient heat so as to overheat
themselves in the winter. 

I would be interested in hearing opinions on weather you think Mr. 
Newport was observing an actual overheating of the colony, or 
some other natural occurrence that would give the impression 
that the bees were being overheated to the observer. 

I am pretty sure here of the full identity of the entomologist, 
but am seeking absolute verification on weather or not the 
Mr. Newport in reference, is the Entomologist, 
George Newport Esq. and also any further information on his 
experiments with bees.

The article can be found in its entirety on the Historical Honeybee
Articles site, but here, I post the portion of great interest.

<snip>…It has been already shown, that a surprising 
amount of heat may be suddenly developed in the 
hive even in mid-winter, by exciting the bees. In 
a second straw-hive, which Mr. Newport had 
exposed to the open air like the common cottage-hives, 
the internal temperature at 10 o'clock, A. M., of the 
2d Feb., was a little over 48 degrees, being only 14 
degrees higher than that of the external atmosphere. 
On disturbing the hive by tapping, the mercury rose 
to 102 degrees, or 68 degrees above the temperature 
of the surrounding air. When the heat is thus 
suddenly increased during the earlier or latter part 
of winter, it becomes intolerable to the bees, and 
they immediately endeavor to reduce it by ventilation, 
provided the outer cold be not too severe to 
prevent their assembling near the entrance of the 
hive. At about 40 degrees, the temperature of the 
hive is quickly modified by the assiduity of the 
bees; "I have often," says Mr. Newport, "been 
amused by observing them after the hive has been 
disturbed for a short time, although but a few 
minutes before there was not a single bee on the 
alighting board come hastily to the entrance of the 
hive, and having arranged themselves within three 
quarters of an inch of the doorway, begin to fan 
with their wings most laboriously, to occasion a 
current of cool air through the interior of the hive."…<snip>

Best Wishes,
Joe Waggle
"…Contracto frigore pigrae." 
-With cold benumbed, inactive they remain. 
(Virgil, Georgics, Book IV, 29 B.C.E) 

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