Thermal imaging is a great beekeeper tool.

To check hive temperature during winter we use two methods. All our hives are fitted with an internal temperature sensor from www.beehivemonitoring.com. As a quick check tool we use a FLIR C3 infra-red camera. Both give excellent results.

This image shows the thermal map of a swarm on the outside one of our hives. The large white spot below the target symbol tells us the location of the Queen. The bees are thermoregulating and the outside air temperature is very cold about 4 degrees C . In spite of this the bees generate body heat to keep warm raining the temperature around the Queen to about 17 degrees C.