This is my second year keeping bees. I am pretty sure last winter was too wet and too cold for my hives and the girls froze. They had plenty of frames full of honey, but their winter cluster seemed small and separated. This winter has been cold but less wet, which seems to be working well for the bees.
I worry about them on the cold days. I worry about them when it snows. And I check on them when the temps get around 50, which we have been lucky to have recently. It is always a relief to go to the hives and see activity. During the winter, the bees cluster near the bottom of the stored honey. They gradually eat the honey and move up the hive. This cluster of bees use their wings and bodies to generate heat, which keeps the hive at temperatures between 55-95 degrees in the winter. The Queen is usually in the center of this thermoregulating cluster.
On days where the weather nears 50 degrees, the bees “clean house.” They can be seen taking dead bees from inside the hive to outside. They take cleansing flights – they will use these flights to poop and gather small amounts of resources. You might find yellow spots on your car windows – that’s bee poop!
In the fall, the Queen will lay “winter bees.” These bees have a fat-producing gene which helps them over the winter. These bees are designed to live for 6 months, while spring bees typically live 6 weeks. During the winter, the Queen takes a break from laying eggs or minimizes the number of eggs she lays.
You must be logged in to post a comment.