Water collection and storage
The behavioural regulation of thirst, water collection and water storage in honey bee colonies.
This study examined how a honey bee colony detects and quenches its collective thirst when brood hyperthermia (>36°) is observed.
The researchers found that a colony must markedly increase its water intake because evaporative cooling is essential to correct any brood hyperthermia when external temperatures are very high; the speed with which this mechanism is implemented is crucial, as the colony stores virtually no water reserves.
The scientists also clarified how water-carrying workers know when to act—by detecting either more frequent water requests, an individual sensation of thirst, or both. Finally, the study showed that the behavioural flexibility of water carriers enables them not only to meet immediate water needs (homeostasis) but also to anticipate future urgent needs by storing water in their bodies and in the cells.
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