We braved the heat and humidity last weekend to visit the Des Moines Art Festival. Partway through our stroll through downtown Des Moines I found myself in need of a “facility” and only the portable kind was available. Three minutes in that tiny, stuffy and dimly lit Kybo and I was ready for some fresh air! Believe it or not, what had been intolerable outside actually felt refreshing!

That’s what I imagine it’s like inside a bee hive. While we suffer through this miserable heat wave, literally thousands of bees are working their butts off in a dark, stuffy hive.

When it gets really hot and sticky, the bees like to hang out outside the hive (see above). I can see why! This is called bearding.

The bees take turns working in the hive. Many are focused on one of their most important jobs for the colony: making and storing honey for fall and winter survival.

Honey stores best at 18 percent humidity – any more and it will ferment, and less it will solidify.

Most uncapped honey is “wet” – too watery, so bees beat their wings to increase air circulation within the hive. This will encourage evaporation of the extra moisture in the uncapped honey. When the honey reaches that magic state of 18 percent humidity, other bees excrete wax and cap each cell of honey. At this point, honey will keep indefinitely.

All this takes place when outside air temps exceed 95 and humidity also may be just as high!

I used to feel sorry for the bees during hot weather. Then I learned from a commercial beekeeper that the bees love the hot weather. It’s easier to fly, and the nectar is easier to get. In Iowa, hot weather also seems to be when the nectar is plentiful.

So let’s hear it for the bees. They have their work cut out for them! It’s hot and they love it! Hip hip hurray!