A bee beard can refer to bees hanging from a hive in a beard-like formation due to excess heat, or to the practice of allowing bees to sit on the body as part of a competition. The latter involves placing a queen bee under the chin to attract bees, with competitors judged by the total weight of bees on their bodies. While some find it scary, bee enthusiasts argue that calm bees tend not to sting.
The term bee beard has two possible meanings. In its first sense, it refers to a phenomenon in which bees hang from the side of a hive in a beard-like formation. This behavior is believed to be caused by excess heat buildup within a beehive. A bee beard can also refer to the practice, more common among bee experts and thrill seekers, of allowing very large numbers of bees to sit on the body, sometimes as part of a competition.
For many beekeepers and biologists, the term bee beard usually refers to a behavior in which bees emerge from a hive and then descend its side by clinging to each other. This hanging accumulation of bees gives the hive the appearance of a beard. Bee experts believe this type of beard is a natural behavior that occurs when the inside of a beehive has gotten too hot. By hanging outside the hive, the bees allow themselves and their hive to cool down. They generally return inside their hive once their temperature has dropped.
For some people, a bee beard is a kind of extreme sport or stunt where an individual allows a large number of bees to rest on their body. Creating this type of beard involves placing a queen bee in a cage and then sticking the cage under her chin. When bees smell the hormones their queen gives off, they instinctively flock to her. Therefore, when a queen is placed near a person’s chin, bees from that queen’s hive gather on and around that individual’s chin to protect the queen. When the caged queen is removed, the bees follow her and the beard scatters.
Often, this type of bee beard is formed as part of a competition. Competitors in such competitions are usually judged by the total weight of the bees that land on their bodies. Competitors can only attract bees to the chin, neck and face areas or they can allow their entire body to be covered by the insects. Bees’ “beards” that cover their entire bodies can weigh more than 50 pounds (22 kg). While many people find the idea of bee beards scary, beard aficionados argue that as long as the bees are kept calm during the process, they tend not to sting.
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