How do bees regulate the temperature inside the hive?

Bees maintain a consistent temperature inside the hive primarily through clustering and fanning. When it gets too warm, worker bees will cluster together while simultaneously beating their wings to create airflow, which helps to cool the hive. This behavior is crucial, especially during hot weather, to prevent overheating and keep brood (eggs, larvae, and pupae) at the optimal temperature for development.

The other choices, while related to hive management and temperature control, do not effectively explain the direct method of temperature regulation. For instance, honey storage does provide thermal mass and can help moderate temperature swings, but it does not actively cool the hive like clustering and fanning. Similarly, while opening and closing hive entrances can aid in ventilation and airflow, it is not as direct or effective for immediate temperature regulation as the fanning technique. Moving to cooler areas of the hive can also occur, but it is a more passive response and less about actively managing hive temperature. Therefore, the clustering and use of wings is the primary method bees use to directly influence the internal temperature of the hive.