The cooling system that lets bees beat the heat when hovering

Phys.org

February 18, 2026

To stay in the air when hovering over a flower, bumble bees continually flap their wings rapidly, a metabolic process that generates a massive amount of internal heat. Their flight muscles work so intensely that they can raise the insect's body temperature by 30°C to 35°C above the surrounding air. On a scorching summer day, this can put them at risk of overheating, which may be fatal.