Glossary
A behavior in which bees link their legs together to form living chains or curtains between frames or across open spaces in the hive. Festooning is commonly observed during comb building and is believed to help bees measure distances and coordinate wax construction.
During a hive inspection, you may notice bees hanging between frames in delicate chains, each bee gripping the legs of the one above with her own legs, forming curtains of linked bees that span the gap between comb surfaces. This is festooning, one of the more visually striking behaviors in the hive.
The behavior is most commonly associated with comb building. Chains of festooning bees appear in areas where new comb is being drawn, and the behavior decreases when comb construction is complete. The leading hypothesis is that festooning allows bees to measure the distance between comb surfaces (maintaining bee space) and provides a living scaffolding from which wax-producing bees work. Other researchers suggest it facilitates the transfer of wax flakes between workers during construction.
Seeing festooning during an inspection is generally positive. It indicates active comb construction, which means the colony is growing, has adequate food stores to invest in wax production, and is healthy enough to expand. A colony that has stopped building comb (and therefore stopped festooning) during a nectar flow may have a problem: space constraints, queen issues, or disease interfering with normal growth.
Festooning also appears during swarming preparation. When a swarm cluster forms on a tree branch, the bees festoon into elaborate hanging formations to thermoregulate and protect the queen while scout bees search for a permanent nesting site. In the swarm cluster, festooning serves a structural purpose, creating a stable, insulated mass around the queen.
Festooning is most closely associated with comb construction. The chains are believed to help bees measure distances between comb surfaces, provide a scaffold for wax workers, and facilitate wax transfer between individuals. It also occurs in swarm clusters for structural and thermoregulatory purposes.
No. Festooning is natural, positive behavior indicating active comb building and a healthy, growing colony. It is one of the more fascinating sights during a hive inspection.
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