What behavioral sign may indicate the presence of tracheal mites in bees?

Abnormal clustering in winter is a behavioral sign that may indicate the presence of tracheal mites in bees. Tracheal mites, which infest the tracheae of bees, can affect the bee's ability to regulate body temperature and overall vitality. As a result, infested bees may cluster more tightly than healthy bees during the winter months to conserve warmth and protect themselves from the cold. This clustering behavior is typically a response to stress and a lack of sufficient body heat, which can occur when bees are compromised by mite infestations.

The other behaviors listed do not provide indications of tracheal mite presence. Increased honey production does not correlate with mite infestations, as the overall health of the colony may suffer. Excessive foraging may indicate that the bees are healthy and thriving rather than being affected by mites. Similarly, a high bee count in spring can be attributed to a successful and healthy colony rather than a specific indicator of tracheal mites.