As winter sets in, it’s not just the plants and humans who must adapt; pollinators, especially bees, face unique challenges.
To protect beehives and pollinators in winter, insulate hives to prevent drafts, manage moisture with proper ventilation or moisture quilts, and ensure bees have enough food by checking honey reserves and providing sugar bricks or fondant if needed. Reduce hive disturbance to help bees stay warm.
Cold weather can be brutal on bees and other pollinators, but with the right strategies, you can help them survive and thrive until spring returns.
What Happens to Bees in Winter?
When the temperatures drop, bees cluster together inside the hive to generate warmth, working as a team to make it through winter. Honeybees, in particular, stay active in the hive during the cold months, vibrating their wings to maintain an optimal temperature.
The Role of Pollinators in Ecosystem Balance
Pollinators play a huge role in maintaining biodiversity. Winter might seem like a season of inactivity, but the health and survival of these pollinators during these months set the stage for a successful pollination cycle in spring.
What Can You Put Out For Bees In Winter?
Winter is a tough season for bees, who rely on their honey stores to sustain them through the long, cold months. But despite bees’ meticulous honey production and storage during spring and summer, there are times when their reserves may run low.
To prevent starvation, beekeepers often provide supplemental winter feeding to ensure the hive’s survival. Knowing how, when, and what to feed your bees can make all the difference in helping them reach spring in strong health.
What Bees Need to Survive the Cold Season
Honeybees work tirelessly in the warmer months to stockpile honey, which acts as their primary food source in winter. Honey provides essential carbohydrates, fats, and nutrients that fuel their bodies as they cluster together to stay warm.
During winter, bees remain inside the hive, so access to honey stores is vital. Without a steady energy source, bees can’t generate enough heat, and starvation becomes a real risk, especially during extended cold snaps.
While bees are excellent planners, several factors can lead to food shortages, including an unusually long winter, lower-than-expected honey production, or even a higher population in the hive consuming honey faster than anticipated.
If you suspect that honey supplies may not last through the season, supplemental feeding is critical. Regular hive checks (during mild days) allow you to assess food levels and take timely action.
Types of Winter Feeds for Bees
When honey supplies run low, beekeepers can provide several types of feed to sustain their bees. However, it’s important to use feeds suited for winter, as some types are better adapted for colder conditions:
Fondant: Fondant is a thick, sugar-based paste that doesn’t freeze easily, making it ideal for winter feeding. It is placed directly above the cluster where bees can access it without leaving their warm, secure position.
Sugar Bricks: These are solid blocks made by mixing sugar with a small amount of water and letting it harden. Like fondant, sugar bricks can be placed on top of frames, making them accessible to bees during cold months. They offer an extended source of food without requiring frequent refills.
Sugar Syrup (for Late Fall): A two-to-one sugar syrup (2 parts sugar to 1 part water) can be fed to bees in the late fall, but not in deep winter, as the liquid can freeze and isn’t as accessible. Bees may take up syrup and store it before temperatures drop, building up their reserves.
These feeds provide the energy bees need to survive without leaving the hive, which is critical since venturing out in cold temperatures can be fatal.
Installing Feeders Safely
Placement of the feeder is crucial, as it needs to be accessible without disrupting the bees’ winter cluster. A safe practice is to place feeders directly above the cluster, where bees can reach the food without breaking formation and losing heat.
Bee clusters don’t move far in winter, so placing food directly overhead ensures that they can access it as temperatures drop further. An insulated inner cover or an outer cover can be used to prevent drafts while keeping the feeder in place
Additionally, avoid exposing the hive to open air when refilling feeders during milder days; quick, minimal disruption will keep the bees safe from unnecessary heat loss.
Feeding bees properly through the winter helps them conserve energy, stay warm, and remain strong for spring.
By ensuring they have access to food, you’re giving your bees the best chance to thrive through the colder months, emerging in spring ready to pollinate and build their population for another season.
Do Bees Abandon Their Hives In Winter?
No, honeybees do not abandon their hives in winter. Unlike some insects that migrate or die off as temperatures drop, honeybees remain inside their hives, relying on a remarkable survival strategy called winter clustering to stay warm.
When the outside temperature dips, bees gather tightly around their queen in the center of the hive, forming a dense, layered cluster.
This “bee ball” functions like a natural heating system, with the bees vibrating their flight muscles to generate heat, keeping the core of the cluster at a cozy temperature, often around 90°F (32°C), even if the weather outside is freezing.
Bees take turns moving from the colder outer edges of the cluster to the warmer center, allowing them to share warmth and conserve energy.
The bees on the outside insulate the cluster, creating a protective shield against the cold, while the ones on the inside keep the temperature stable.
To fuel this heat production, bees consume honey stores they gathered in the warmer months, which provides them with the energy needed to maintain their internal temperature through the winter.
This behavior is crucial for their survival, as leaving the hive in winter would expose them to lethally cold conditions. Even on relatively mild winter days, bees will rarely venture outside unless they’re performing a brief “cleansing flight” to eliminate waste.
By clustering and conserving energy within the hive, honeybees ensure they’ll survive until spring arrives and resources become available again. Their commitment to staying within the hive through winter speaks to the resilience and efficiency of these remarkable pollinators.
How Do You Keep Moisture Out Of A Beehive In The Winter?
How Excess Moisture Affects Bees
Moisture is one of the most dangerous threats to bees during winter. Unlike humans, bees don’t migrate south or hibernate, so they stay active within the hive, generating warmth by clustering together and vibrating their bodies.
This activity produces heat—and with it, moisture from their breathing and metabolic processes. In cold weather, this moisture can quickly turn into condensation on the hive’s inner walls, dripping down onto the bees below.
When bees get wet in freezing temperatures, they’re at severe risk of hypothermia. Unlike rain in warmer weather, which bees can often tolerate, winter moisture can be deadly.
Even a single drop of water can cause body temperatures to drop, immobilizing them and, in severe cases, leading to the death of entire clusters. Preventing moisture accumulation is essential for a healthy, warm winter hive.
Moisture Control Solutions for Winter
Keeping moisture under control involves using tools and strategies that help absorb or release excess humidity while preserving the hive’s warmth. Here are two popular solutions:
Moisture Quilts: A moisture quilt, or “absorption board,” is a breathable layer placed above the top of the hive frames. These quilts are typically filled with materials like burlap or wood shavings, which absorb humidity as it rises, keeping the inside of the hive dry.
The moisture quilt is designed to allow air to pass through while trapping water vapor, preventing it from condensing on the cold hive ceiling and dripping onto bees.
Wood Shavings: Many beekeepers also use wood shavings placed in a mesh bag above the hive’s inner cover. Wood shavings are excellent at absorbing moisture without blocking airflow, providing a simple, effective way to manage humidity.
Both methods prevent excess moisture buildup, creating a safer, drier environment for bees to cluster through the winter.
Ventilation Tips for Beehives
Proper ventilation is a key aspect of moisture control, but achieving the right balance can be tricky. Too little ventilation and condensation builds up; too much, and you risk letting in cold drafts.
A well-designed ventilation system allows warm, moist air to escape from the hive while keeping the hive’s interior relatively stable.
One effective technique is to add a top entrance to the hive. This small opening lets warm, humid air escape, which reduces the risk of condensation without letting in too much cold air.
The top entrance should be placed just beneath the outer cover or roof of the hive. By allowing air circulation at the top, moisture has a natural escape point, helping bees stay dry and warm.
Another tip is to avoid over-sealing the hive. Some airflow is beneficial, as it helps to ventilate moisture and reduces the buildup of harmful gases, such as carbon dioxide, inside the hive.
By balancing insulation with ventilation, you’ll create an environment that’s both warm and dry—giving your bees the best chance for survival through the colder months.
How To Protect Bee Hives In Winter?
Winterizing your beehives is essential for the survival and well-being of your bees. Cold, moisture, and hunger are the top threats bees face during the winter, and each can be mitigated with thoughtful preparation. Here’s a breakdown of the key steps:
Inspecting the Hive Structure
Your first line of defense against the cold is a sturdy, well-sealed hive. As temperatures drop, small gaps, cracks, or weaknesses in the hive’s structure can expose bees to chilling drafts, making it harder for them to maintain their cluster’s warmth.
Start by carefully inspecting the entire exterior of the hive, focusing on corners, seams, and the base where wear and tear are most likely to occur. A good seal keeps cold air out and helps bees preserve their warmth, making their energy reserves last longer.
Even small openings can allow pests to enter and threaten the bees’ safety. Seal cracks or gaps with weather-resistant caulking, but be sure to leave essential ventilation holes. This will protect bees without trapping moisture inside the hive.
Identifying Winter Threats to Beehives
Understanding winter-specific threats allows you to plan for and counteract them early on. The three major concerns are moisture buildup, pests, and food shortages:
Moisture Buildup: Cold is dangerous, but moisture inside the hive can be even more lethal. When water vapor from bees’ breathing condenses on the cold hive walls, it can drip onto the bees, causing hypothermia.
Installing a moisture quilt or top ventilation provides airflow, reducing condensation risks.
Pests: During the colder months, rodents and small predators are often drawn to hives, seeking warmth and food. Mice, in particular, can squeeze into small spaces and damage the hive, creating stress and potential disease risks for your bees.
Place a metal mouse guard over the entrance to prevent rodents from sneaking inside.
Food Shortages: Bees survive winter by consuming honey stores they collect during the warmer months. If food supplies are low, starvation becomes a significant threat.
Ensure your bees have ample honey reserves, and consider providing supplemental feeding options, like sugar bricks or fondant, if you anticipate a long winter.
Addressing these common winter hazards will help your beehives stay strong and healthy through the season, ensuring your colony emerges vibrant.
Conclusion
Preparing beehives and pollinators for winter ensures they emerge healthy and ready for the new season. By insulating hives, managing moisture, providing supplemental food, and securing the hive against pests, you give your bees the best chance to survive the cold.
These efforts not only protect your colonies but also support the essential pollinators our ecosystems rely on. With these winterizing steps, you’re investing in a thriving hive and a productive, pollinator-friendly environment come spring.