Bee activity at night at 55 degrees F

[Algonam]

I am wondering if any of you can tell me what you think happens when the temperatures drop at night like they have been here recently.
It is currently 6:45 am and it is 15 deg C (55 degrees F). It goes up to 28-29 C (85-90 F) + humidity during the days and the bees are very busy during these warm sunny days.
What about at night? Would they be balling up around the queen at these temps just for the nights?
This is typical 2nd half of August temps for us.

[caticind]

Probably not.  They might form a loose cluster overnight but would be unlikely to assume the "formal" layered ball.

[BlueBee]

We've been getting down to the upper 50s here (14.4C).  My bees are still hanging out on the landing board like they did all summer long.  My 2" of foam traps any heat in the hive pretty well.  Between the thermal mass in the hives and the 2" of foam, my hive temps aren't going anywhere very quickly.

My guess is your queen is around the brood like normal and the bees are heating the brood to 95F like normal.  The rest of the bees would only need to pull into a tighter cluster if more insulation (i.e bees) is needed around the brood to maintain that brood temp. 

Same deal applies in the spring, the bees will pull in tighter on really cold nights but will keep the brood at 95F.  If they can't keep all the brood covered and heated as they pull in tighter, then some brood die.  Called chilled brood.  This time of year there will not be as much brood being raised and 55F is not that cold, so I wouldn't expect any problems.

[BeeMaster2]

Last year I had a hive of Cronolians. During the winter last year they would be out flying first thing in the morning with the thermometer reading 43 degrees. Not these Italian's that I have now.
Jim

[caticind]

My Italians fly during the winter on any day 45 degrees or above...