A method for investigating heat exchange in a honeybee winter cluster

Savitskii, V. E.

A theoretical analysis of heat transfer in the cluster shows that when air temperature decreases to between +5 and -10 deg C, the cluster contracts to reduce the heat exchange surface; the rate at which heat is given off remains almost constant. When the cluster can contract no further, any increased heat loss as a result of falling air temperature is compensated for by increased heat production in the colony.