Water has many uses in a honey bee colony. It’s a major component of brood food, and bees use it to dilute thick or crystallized honey before consuming it. During heat stress, water becomes essential for evaporative cooling. Returning water foragers pass their loads to house bees, who spread it in thin films over cell rims and capped brood. Other workers fan their wings to circulate air across these films, which cools the hive and helps regulate humidity, keeping the brood nest at a stable temperature.
Video · Biology