What is Festooning & Why Do Bees Do It?

If you spend enough time in a beehive, you'll probably witness some fairly bizarre behaviors that the bees are involved in, possibly even ones you were unaware of! The festooning habit is one of these. Now you must be wondering what it is. Well, let us define festooning! It is an essential and intriguing behavior seen in colonies of honeybees. In this unusual activity, bees hang together in chains or curtains, a sight that is frequently observed inside the hive. These bees are renowned for producing bee chains or loops that dangle from the roof of their hives and resemble festoons or curtains. Simply put, it is an incredibly exceptional illustration of how these insects communicate and organize their social groups.

What is Festooning?

To construct chains and give the appearance of a festoon, bees engage in a process known as festooning. It is a behavior seen in several bee species, however, it is most frequently associated with honeybees ( Apis mellifera ). When we understand the festoon meaning and its complexities, we get a glimpse into the compelling social dynamics of the colony and the advanced collaboration techniques used by the bees.

Usually, when they are constructing or maintaining the comb, they perform this task inside the hive. A cluster of worker bees hanging from the margins of an existing comb or other hive structures signals the commencement of festooning. As a chain, they hold onto each other via the legs. The festoon grows longer and starts resembling a bridge as more bees join the chain. By holding onto one another by the legs, the bees create a transient structure that varies in:

• Density

• Length

These festoons might take the shape of long, curtain-like structures or short chains. Bees may start to release beeswax from their abdomen glands as the festoon gets larger. They distribute the wax flakes to neighboring bees, who sculpt and form the material into the comb's hexagon-shaped cells.

Why Do Bees Festoon?

1. Comb Upkeep and Construction

The construction and upkeep of combs is one of festooning's key purposes. Festooning is important when bees are building new comb or repairing old structures. The ideal comb cell spacing and alignment are measured and created with the assistance of the bee chains.

While they release beeswax from their wax glands, the bees hung in chains might also serve as a scaffold, supporting one another. Moreover, the hexagonal comb cells, which are crucial for storing honey, pollen, and housing broods (growing bees), are subsequently built using beeswax.

2. Temperature Regulation 

Controlling the hive's temperature is essential to the colony's survival and performance. Festooning keeps the temperature at the right level for the growth of:

• Combs

• Broods

Festoons of clustered bees can produce and hold heat, which creates a stable environment for these vital functions. Besides, the optimal temperature range to raise brood is 34–36°C (93–97°F). Festooning helps by decreasing airflow and insulating specific parts of the hive, which enables the bees to maintain this temperature through cooperative efforts. In early spring, when the new comb is being built, or in colder weather overall, the physical grouping of bees in festoons aids in the trapping and conservation of heat.

Furthermore, the bees in the festoon are busier, moving in small circles that produce more heat via metabolic activity. This way, wax secretion, and comb development can benefit from the creation of specialized microenvironments within the hive due to the localized warming effect.

3. Interaction and Organisation

The process allows worker bees to coordinate and communicate with one another. Bees may exchange pheromones and chemical messages through physical contact, which is necessary for coordinating hive activity. This physical contact can enhance tasks like:

• Building combs

• Processing nectar

• Caring for broods

It may also be a means by which bees communicate about the availability of resources such as nectar and pollen, ultimately facilitating cooperation among the colony members in the pursuit of shared objectives.

4. Structural Support

Festooning not only encourages the building of combs but also offers vital structural support for the hive. A comb that is still soft and newly constructed can be stabilized by the bees' chains. This extra support prevents the fragile comb from collapsing from the weight of the bees. Additionally, the wax structure is held in place until it solidifies and becomes self-supporting by the live framework that bees build when they produce these festoons. This behavior is especially important in the early phases of comb development when the wax is most prone to:

• Breaking

• Distortion

It serves a substantial role in ensuring more equitable distribution of the comb's weight, which:

• Minimizes the strain on any one spot

• Guarantees that the comb will keep its structural integrity as it increases

5. Storage of Resources

As nectar and pollen are passed along the festoon to other bees for processing and storing in the comb cells, the bees hanging in chains can serve as a temporary repository for these resources. Whether for immediate consumption or storage, this relay system makes sure that supplies are transferred to the most important locations inside the hive efficiently. The flow of these resources can be regulated by the bees in the festoon, guaranteeing that:

• The nectar is sufficiently converted into honey

• The pollen is preserved for later use

Also, bees may save these resources from being wasted or dispersed by creating festoons, especially when hive activity is at its peak.

In A Nutshell

Apart from helping with building and upkeep, the process of festooning demonstrates the cooperative spirit necessary for hive longevity. By learning about festoons definition and the reasons hidden behind its process, we enhance our appreciation of bees and their essential role in our ecosystem.

Now that you’ve become aware of festoon meaning, do you get the urge to taste different honey product s  that are a result of the arduous work of these magical living creatures? Well, we’ve got you covered! Contact our team at Smiley Honey or visit our social media platforms to learn about our extensive variety of pure honey types collected from across the world!