Bees huddling in the rain

Last night the heavens opened up and rain poured with no light shower preview and no warning. I looked out to see how the bee beards were faring. As I watched the bees who were clustered on Destin fell to the porch in clumps.

When they cluster like this last little group is doing, they cling to each others' legs. Wonder how they decide to let go? You do it! No, you let go first! Clumps the size of the palm of my hand fell to the front porch, let go of each other and went in out of the rain.

The cluster in this picture remained this way throughout the storm. They were somewhat protected by the cut out hand grip and the telescoping cover. I went out this morning expecting to find dead bees all over the deck, but there were no more than usual (4 - 6) scattered over the deck where the mortician bees had dragged them and there were 2 dead on the landing area of the hive.