>When they form a compact living layer over the wax comb, the conductivity
can be reduced

A very interesting aspect of the insulative value of a layer of bees is that
it is not simply passive.  Since they all face in, they are able to actively
move heat.

Bees generate heat in their thoracic flight muscles, and such heat is pumped
forward to their heads under voluntary control.  Any heat generated by an
outside bee is then aborbed by the next bee in, and then pumped forward
toward the center.  This "active transport" of heat counteracts the normal
flow of heat from the warm center towards the cold periphery of the cluster.

Randy Oliver

             ***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software.  For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html

Access BEE-L directly at:
http://community.lsoft.com/scripts/wa-LSOFTDONATIONS.exe?A0=BEE-L