A ball-like arrangement of adult bees within the hive during winter. When swarming, bees will cluster together for a time, and this mass of bees is what is commonly found hanging on a tree limb or other structure in a large ball. “What they’re doing in a cluster is waiting for the scout bees to find a place for them to call home, while the cluster protects the queen.
In winter months, when the outside temperature dips below 60 degrees F, the bees form a ball, cluster, within the hive to keep the queen and any eggs and larvae from freezing. While keeping the queen in the center, the surrounding bees will produce heat by vibrating. They will keep the center of the hive at approximately 90 degrees F., no matter what the outside temperature may be. See “Fat Bees and Winter Cluster” for more information.
Winter cluster in the hive.
