Hi all
I tried to find good numbers for temperature range and honey bee flight. So far I get these
Active in the temperature range of 27–43°C with mean peak activities at 35°C (range of 80–109°F; peak activities at 95°F)—Beekeeping in the Desert: Foraging Activities of Honey Bee during Major Honeyflow in a Hot-Arid Ecosystem
The minimum temperature for honeybee flight is 54º F. The optimum temperature for flight activity is 72-77º F, but activity continues up to about 100º F before declining.—Honeybee Flight Activity Index. Maine Cooperative Extension
My recollection from talking with beekeepers in the SoCal desert tends to agree with the first clip: bees will fly up to 109F. But this also depends on humidity. The number is higher with higher humidity. Low humidity can be desiccating. The Maine values may be tied to floral responses, rather than temperature tolerance.
PLB
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