Bees in winter
Many people think that bees would die in winter like it happens to other kinds of insects. What really goes on in the beehive is very interesting.
When the beekeeper took out the honey at the end of summer he has to feed them. Each bee colony needs about 20 kg of sugar.
When the bees put this sugar into the cells and it is getting colder outsinde they only leave the hive to excrement.
The rest of the time they are in a great bees grape. The bees change their position and with the moving of the wings they keep the others warm. The queen is inside the grape. The temperature is about 20 °C. When the queen starts to lay eggs in January or February the temperature inside the grape is about 34 °C.
It is not necesarry to put something around the hipe to help them keeping it warm.
The beekeeper should not open the hipe before the temperature outside is getting warmer. When the hipe is opened and the temperature is too cold the bees start to fly and die.
December
March
@redfield we once did an experiment where we put a bee in the freezer. It was frozen solid, and after two or three hours...can't remember exactly we took out the bee and it flew away. Went into a state of suspended animation...very interesting, I was amazed! LOL!
Never heard that before. Good for that bee ;)
Interesting. Upvoted and followed.
Here's one of my postings that may interest you. No need to vote, it's an old posting, just thought you might be interested in old beekeeper things.
Very nice pictures. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I did not know those things about bees before :)