Festooning

This is where bees form a chain by holding each other toe-to-toe, or hand-to-hand, which ever way you look at it

According to the dictionary festooning means "to adorn (a place) with chains, garlands, or other decorations". Etymologically: Festoon: a "string or chain of flowers, ribbon, or other material suspended between two points," 1620s, from French feston (16c.), from Italian festone, literally "a festive ornament," apparently from festa "celebration, feast," from Vulgar Latin *festa.

 

The word perfectly describes what bees do when creating chains of themselves. It almost looks like they are holding hands and it is super cute. Science is not completely sure the in’s and out’s but it is known it relates to hive building. When bees are building honey comb they are hanging vertically from a frame top bar. This way they become a plumb, like a water level, making sure the wax comb is built perfectly straight down. It is also known that when a swarm is looking for a new home they know what the size of such a new home will be. We know they can measure, let’s say, the inside hollow volume of a tree. They probably do this also by festooning. 

Just like a brick layer uses a plumb to build a wall straight, bees use their festooning skills to make honey comb.

In Sandy's artwork for this topic happy bees are holding hands