What do bees do during the winter? | Beekeeping

We get lots of questions about what bees do during the winter. We have done many videos about closing up a hive but those that may not keep bees may not watch those specific videos so we decided to address that question in its own video.
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VIDEO CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
0:33 What do bees do during the winter?
2:19 When do bees cluster?
3:40 What does the queen do during the winter?
4:30 Taking a peek into a hive at the colony
5:01 Moisture in the hive
5:40 Additional techniques we use to help aide the bees
7:20 When do bees emerge in the spring?
8:30 Wrap up
Videos are produced, edited, and published by Jason Crook, Owner & Operator of Bohemia Apiary. Jason is a University of Montana Master Certified Beekeeper, who has been keeping bees for almost a decade and enjoys sharing his experiences with the craft of beekeeping. Remember beekeeping is local, our videos outline are what works for us and are not intended to be a prescription for your bee colonies or how to operate your apiary. Although these concepts are generally endorsed by many beekeepers you have to listen, watch, and learn from your bees as well as other resources in the craft of beekeeping.
"Beekeeping is more than a hobby, it's an obsession" - J.Crook
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#winterbeekeeping #overwintering #honey #honeybeevideos #howtokeepbees #beehive #beekeeping101 #bohemiabees #varroamite #sustainable #sustainability

[@sheikbombalot5781]

So basically they just chill and keep each other company and warm during winter? Very cool!

[@BohemiaBees]

Pretty much!

[@cpryce6436]

I always assumed that bees hibernated inside the hive - thank you for such a full and fascinating explanation! 🐝

[@noahriding5780]

BTW the burnt wood look on your hives looks very nice. And I love seeing beautiful bee yards.

[@brendametube]

Truthfully, you are the kindest and most informative KZbin Contant maker that I have ever found! You are answering everyone’s questions, you are so knowledgeable, and so good at teaching. You could’ve created a master class and got paid instead of going through all the trouble of filming, editing and offering all of this information to us. That is so generous of you, and you have inspired me to someday “bee” a beekeeper! 🐝💛🖤💛🖤🍯

[@BohemiaBees]

Wow, thank you! 🙏🏻 ❤️

[@SwimmingSwaglessShroud]

It’s adorable when bees cuddle together during winter....I envy them so much I wish I had a lover to cuddle.

[@waterfall_dreamer7634]

Thanks for the information.

[@UnmaskingTheMachine]

Very informative. I had no clue what bees did during the winter

[@BohemiaBees]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Gamball_Memes]

did only 918 people were curious about it? sad to know by the way great video thx for the video and you explain very well

[@jimholmes964]

Here where I am in Australia (mid East Coast) we don't go through a 'dearth' or under snow. But then we don't have the big boom that you guys do.. Our Eucalypts don't always flower every year either. The suburbs are the best providers. Pls take a few mins. to view some of my videos - searcn jimandthebees on instagram; or Country Contacts Beekeeping. cheers from down under.

[@mememanfresh]

25 thousand now

[@DoodleDan]

4:59 poor bee on the right side :( Amazing video!

[@julinafederico8031]

This is absolutely amazing the other day I was watching the bees at my humming bird feeder and was Thinking what happens to bees in the Winter? I then came across your video and it was absolutely fantastic.

[@BohemiaBees]

julina federico thank you. This is why we make them. Be sure to subscribe and check out our other videos about beekeeping

[@enriqueharper6270]

I realize it's kinda off topic but do anyone know a good site to watch new movies online?

[@sandy-rr1by]

@@BohemiaBees stray bees came to my yard for the hummingbird feeders so i've been giving them 4# sugar with enough water to make a half gallon every day. drilled holes in bottles set in tray with rocks. they come in morning when i fill the bottles and drizzle the rocks, and stay most of the day. thinking their hive and keeper must be nearby. wondering how much longer i need to help them til they stay at their hive. 7b huntsville.

[@mattheww797]

During winter bees mostly engage in art activities or tell stories through dance to keep themselves entertained.

[@tawnyataylor9607]

They go into Torpor. A lot of people have actually killed hives that were in Torpor, because they thought the hive had died out when in fact they were just asleep. And if you leave thim alone when the weather warms up they come back to life. It's actually kind of neat

[@BohemiaBees]

Good practice. Agreed.

[@Irishbrazilian]

Excellent video. Thanks 🎉

[@BohemiaBees]

Thank you.

[@alyn7d7]

Wow

[@BohemiaBees]

Thank you for your support

[@tshaffer9681]

Thank you. I was extremely curious about that.

[@BohemiaBees]

Glad we could help give some perspective

[@Shizuka-awareness]

Very interesting. Thank you

[@BohemiaBees]

Thanks for supporting

[@RaySarasin]

I am in Canada its -20C today i shed my hives here in winter and heat to +4 C

[@offshoot1008]

What part of canada ? Im in ontario .

[@RaySarasin]

@@offshoot1008 Alberta

[@ronaldlee2376]

I have seen many bee hives, but none as immaculate & orderly as yours, including the setting. Thanks for the info. on wintering bees.

[@BohemiaBees]

Thank you so much. We take pride in our apiary and love the craft of beekeeping

[@LorobBees]

Very nice!

[@BohemiaBees]

Thanks!

[@gregwaskom552]

Our bees fly and forage at 45f. The cluster center is only 93 if brood is present. If no brood the cluster temp will be in 70s.

[@BohemiaBees]

Greg Waskom you are correct. We have some bees that will fly closer to 45-50f. You are also correct that they only maintain the brood nest around 93f if there is brood. Most believe the queen stops 100% laying but they don’t actually. They slow dramatically sometimes pause but as you pass the winter solstice she slowly increases.

[@PipeGuy64Bit]

I always wondered this and it always bothered me how in school when bees are talked about in science class, they never talk about what they do during the winter.

[@BohemiaBees]

Well now you know. Thanks for the support.

[@tiggercampbell6198]

never knew and actually never even thought about it..thank you

[@BohemiaBees]

Glad you enjoyed the video. Don’t forget to subscribe and hit alerts for new video alerts. Have a great day!!

[@robertscarborough7890]

Good video.your very close to my area , so it's nice to get knowledge from someone close to home.

[@BohemiaBees]

Thank you.

[@privatebubba8876]

Nice apiary. Our bees fly and lay year round. It to be 78F today and the girls are taking pollen sub.

[@redbird9000]

I found this to be awesome and I learned much.

[@BohemiaBees]

Thanks Joe. Appreciate the support.

[@doctorshoot]

thank you

[@BohemiaBees]

You are welcome. Thanks for the support

[@aaronparis4714]

I have one main entrance that's it and I'm in Canada I believe bees do get cold so I like to keep my hives well insulated I have great success you do not need a wet box lol that's what I call them a wet box that holds moisture above the cluster

[@jamesbond1796]

Was watching Joe Rogan and his guest is a 🐝 keeper so yea that's while I'm here

[@BohemiaBees]

Lol 😂 yeah she has created quite a stir and focus on beekeeping. Guess it’s a good thing.

[@bell4textu973]

Thanks for the upload! I think it`s a myth from the ancient belief that coldness does not kill bees, moisture does. Yes, moisture kill bees but so does the coldness. At cold winter climate, beehives should bee properly insulated. I have lost too many colonies with the old assumption. That`s why I insulate my cubes in a properly way so that the temperature inside is stable day and night. In this way, as a sideeffect, the bees will need significantly less food as well.

[@BohemiaBees]

I won’t argue that cold doesn’t kill bees. But it’s more about the management of the fluctuations of temperature in the colony that allows condensation to build and drip down on a colony. The cold itself doesn’t kill bees, it’s the effects of sustained extreme cold and erratic fluctuations that really kill them. Wrapping a hive only help to manage fluctuations.

[@jamskinner]

I’ve seen hives with tons of moisture, but good insulation survive the cold.

[@trueglobalgr3140]

great video thank you

[@BohemiaBees]

Thank you for the support

[@Puckanm]

how can you have so many bee colonies next to eachother? Its amazing that they all know where to go.

[@BohemiaBees]

They use the sun and geo location to know where to go back too. They also have their own colony pheromone signatures so the guard bees know when another bee doesn’t belong and will let the lost bee know they are not welcome. They also use visual indicators. Sort of like how people know where there home apartment is in a large apartment complex.

[@kathyvalentine2040]

That's why the hive is diff and they no the smell of the queen

[@BohemiaBees]

@CR BZ not during a flow. We use robbing screens during dearth

[@michaelknight9338]

Question ? do you keep that fence up year round ? Love the videos very informative and mind moving to try different things !

[@BohemiaBees]

No we remove it in early spring. Thank you for the support!

[@llNATEDOGGll]

Do you have to consistently expand the bees homes/boxes throughout how long of a time span?

[@BohemiaBees]

Not during winter only when spring arrives.

[@plee1108]

Do you clean up the remaining/unfinished sugar cake when spring comes(nectar flow starts)?

[@BohemiaBees]

Yes, we remove the remaining dry sugar and inspect the colony as the nectar flow starts

[@Bajsballe84]

Hi Is that a piece of baking sheet you've put the sugar on? Can the bees chew through that or have you made slices in it? Thinking of doing the same this year as my bees use a lot of feed due to warm weather

[@BohemiaBees]

Great question. It’s food grade paper directly on the frames with dry sugar on it. It helps provide an emergency food source and aides in moisture absorption.

[@franklloyd6769]

What is below holding the wood chips up. Thanks

[@BohemiaBees]

Screen mesh

[@noahriding5780]

So... have a question for you. Right now its cold enough where I am that the bees only can fly for about 3 or 4 hours of the day. The rest of the day its below flying temperature, sometimes freezing sometimes not (above 30 degrees F but below 50 degrees). This means I technically could put out sugar syrup still for the 3 or so hours of the day. What do you reccomend? Would you put out sugar syrup (outside the hives) in feeder buckets? Or would you just only do mountain camp method with the raw sugar? I should add that a primary element affecting this is that during the temperatures where its too cold for the bees to fly, the feeding stations are absolutely totally infested with yellowjackets, and wasps; literally seeing hundreds of these per feeding bucket. So even if I put the feed out, it may have some awckward spots where it may also be hard for them to break the yellow jacket infestation issues even when they can fly. And this is why its hard for me to tell if outside bucket feeders of syrup will still be worth it. Thanks for any thoughts.

[@BohemiaBees]

I use the avg low temps to guide when I stop syrup feeding and put on dry sugar (mt. camp method) Remember, bees cluster when the outside temps drop to 50 degrees or below. They only can eat what they can reach and won’t break cluster to forage food in the far reaches of a nest or leave the small amount of brood. This includes going to a feeder even internal. The other issue is continuing to feed syrup adds moisture to the inside of the hive. I feed 1:1 for pure energy and comb/brood making. Then switch to 2:1 in late fall because it’s less water and they store it close to the current brood nest. Then when avg low temps reach 50 I put dry sugar on (or some do fondant or candy boards) and leave them alone for winter. If for some reason you see a few days in winter where it does warn up to mid 60s for a few days you can feed a small amount. But it isn’t necessary unless they are really lite and still have some winter left to go.

[@noahriding5780]

@@BohemiaBees Thank you very much. Its amazing how there can be so many things that can happen with bees.

[@mmb_MeAndMyBees]

Doh ! See they are within the Fence... Should of watched it all before Question ! Off to make some Sugar Shims. 😎 Happy Beekeeping 2021. 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝

[@BohemiaBees]

No problem. Thanks for the questions

[@anthonyvallejo9127]

when i was a kid i thought they died and then respawned in the spring

[@BohemiaBees]

Nah they cluster and survive throughout

[@robbiesines4864]

I live in md to I got nuc of bees now I'm waiting till March or April to pull honey right

[@BohemiaBees]

Robbie Sines if you are overwintering that nuc you want to wait until it’s strong enough to even put a honey super on in early spring. Then monitor that super when the frames are capped you can harvest. That is likely closer to June or early July. Unless they are very strong coming out of winter and you may get to pull frames in May. I wouldn’t be too quick to harvest honey, definitely focus on colony strength first.

[@IrishCoven]

So if we take their honey....are we taking whats necessary to sustain them thru the cold winters?

[@BohemiaBees]

We only take the extra. However sometimes a stronger colony needs more or the winter is longer so we add reserves in the form of dry sugar, fondant , etc. to give them additional resources should they need it b

[@noahriding5780]

Hi again, new question for you... Where I'm at it, it seems to be getting harder to get carnis. Lately when I go to get queens people keep trying to give me italian looking queens. But before now everyone had carni muts. I've been wondering if its suicide to try straight italian genetics through a long winter climate area? And we have long winters, short growing season. This makes me worried also about if its going to be really hard to get carni genetics in a few years. So i wanted to ask you about this. How well does almost straight italian genetics do through long winter, short growing season areas? There are lots of videos on overwintering. But almost none of them go into italian genetics versus long winter.

[@BohemiaBees]

Well fortunately I have had no issues breeding queens with Carni genetics. I don’t import many queens from south so much of my stock has Carniolan/buckfast/Saskatraz

[@noahriding5780]

@@BohemiaBees That sounds fun. Can you keep saskatraz gentle?

[@sammyd7857]

If you live in a cold place like this then you should have insulated boxes

[@BohemiaBees]

Not necessarily. Wrapping hives are not necessarily required but are a good practice to have some type of better insulation in much colder climates if you overwinter outdoors and not in a root cellar or temp controlled facility. The key is to have strong colony, low mites, and heavy stores going into winter.

[@Raja-xo6ds]

what kind of honey bees should keep in cold / snowy areas?

[@BohemiaBees]

Apis Mellifera (western honeybees) can tolerate cold temperatures

[@Raja-xo6ds]

@@BohemiaBees I tried to keep them in snow many times but failed

[@Raja-xo6ds]

@@BohemiaBees I tried to keep them in snow many times but failed

[@Raja-xo6ds]

@@BohemiaBees I tried to keep them in snow many times but failed

[@brendametube]

@@Raja-xo6ds by chance was it three times?

[@JanColdwater]

Do you leave water out for them?

[@BohemiaBees]

Not during winter. But summer yes

[@williamsouthwad]

I have a very small hive 3 frames as had to rear a new queen from the frame of brood, got from another hive. So Question. How will I get them through winter? It is now 5th October. Need help as only new to this.

[@williamsouthwad]

I live in Ireland

[@BohemiaBees]

Do you have a laying queen now?

[@bradgoliphant]

QUESTION FOR YOU. if you only keep the bottom entrance open in the winter with no top entrance, won't all the condensation stay at the bottom where the cool air is?

[@Melaniejd902]

I'm a beekeeper in Nova Scotia, Canada. We drill a hold in the top box to allow air flow. Usually about a half inch in diameter.

[@bradgoliphant]

@@Melaniejd902 Do you also keep a small bottom entrance open?

[@Melaniejd902]

@@bradgoliphant yes, we add an entrance reducer as the temps start to drop late September. The opening remaining is about an inch wide.

[@bradgoliphant]

@@Melaniejd902 Oh wonderful to hear. This was my first winter here in NYC, and I ended up adding a 1/2" hole in a top shim, and only having like a 1" hole in the bottom entrance as well. I also added a 3" sugar brick. Thanks for getting back with me.

[@Melaniejd902]

@@bradgoliphant I would expect our beekeeping styles would be very similar given we are close geographically. All the best with your hive this winter! I haven't added my sugar bricks yet. I'm hoping I get a mild day to pop in them in. It's not unusual for Nova Scotia to have some warmer days in December.

[@PackWolfypack]

Do the bees not need any water to drink in the winter?

[@BohemiaBees]

Yes but very infrequently. They first drink any of the condensation they create from the cluster in the hive cavity. Then on any day the temp gets above 50 they will break cluster and forage water.

[@paulchristu996]

I’m in Oregon. Even when temps are in mid 40s my bees break cluster and move up to feed on sugar cake, sip condensation precipitated on the inner cover or suck it out of fabric lining a quilt box. Point is , behaviour can vary with climate; plus, there are water sources inside the hive and they do not necessarily need to forage for it.

[@BohemiaBees]

You re correct. Beekeeping is local. One should always watch and learn from their bees also. Videos like these only serve as a perspective.

[@PackWolfypack]

Thank you, that helps a lot to demystify the issue.

[@sevenswords8781]

I am new and got a swarm last may... They lived through the winter with me doing nothing with them, no feed no syrup... |I have 1000 maybe at best.. I have just gave them sugar water and have ordered some feed... Will they survive? a couple of eggs are there and some pollen but no sign of a queen.. Help..

[@BohemiaBees]

If there is no queen they will collapse. Where are you located?

[@sevenswords8781]

@@BohemiaBees In Wexford Ireland... Could I introduce a queen? I fed them loads of sugar water yesterday, hoping they would get some strength and make a queen.. but I'm not hopeful at this stage.

[@BohemiaBees]

Yes but depends on weather. It needs to be 10-15+ degrees Celsius in order for bees to break cluster. Feeding will help but they cannot “ make a queen” without fertile eggs from another mated queen. In other words if there is no queen as of 3-4 days ago then there are likely no eggs. No eggs no new queen. The only option is obtain a mated queen and install it. But you will likely need a frame of cappped brood also so the bees that are naturally dying off can be replaced by new bees. Remember it takes 21 days for an egg to emerge as a new worker bee.

[@sevenswords8781]

@@BohemiaBees Thank you for your time... I did see maybe 6 eggs? Hopefully I just missed the queen...

[@BohemiaBees]

@@sevenswords8781 hopefully those are from a mated queen and not a laying worker. Are they single eggs in the bottom of each cell?

[@emmarose4234]

Why do bees stay in the hive all winter? Swarm.

[@BohemiaBees]

Because then the temperature drops below 50 degrees bees need to cluster to stay warm and keep their brood nest warm. So they cluster in a ball and shiver to produce heat. Only moving the cluster slowly to eat their stores

[@emmarose4234]

@@BohemiaBees, thanks for the bee-stowing of knowledge.

[@BornIn80sGrewUp90s]

I wish I had land to keep bee in

[@oliverclothesoff5397]

How does the queen know it's past the winter solstice? Temperature rises? Or do they have a calender?

[@BohemiaBees]

lol, well technically yes, its primarily based on the length of daylight. Bees need the sun to orient their flight and help find forage. the winter solstice is the shortest DAY of the year and days leading up to it are progressively shorter. Therefore the colony knows what they need to do to prepare for that point. It's also a turning point in a winter hive, in that the next day after the winter solstice is a bit longer daylight, as spring reaches the Daylight is longer, hence more time to forage and warmer weather. So yes technically they have a little calenders...lol

[@oliverclothesoff5397]

@@BohemiaBees that's very interesting, thank you for explaining that. Also, while I have you, thank you for your content! You make great, informative and entertaining videos! Keep up the awesome work!

[@christinewalsh3043]

How are you not more popular? Mostly thank you fo not culling

[@BohemiaBees]

We ask the same question every day. We are slowly growing our subscribers. Just love making content. Hopefully we will bigger in the future. thank you for your support. Share with your friends or post a link to our videos on other social platforms

[@jay90374]

First time I ever heard langstrofs called traditional, more like commercial!

[@BohemiaBees]

lol very true

[@XMIR10C]

This does not explain how they survive sub-zero temps, sometimes twenty below zero; which occurs in Northern USA and Canada. In particular, WILD bees that do not have nice houses. Please explain how they survive that.

[@BohemiaBees]

We don’t raise bees in sub-zero temps or in Canada so we wouldn’t be able to comment on or provide insight as to how they survive. I’m sure the same principles apply. Wild bees survive in cavities of trees usually which aide in better R value and natural absorption of excess moisture. Our video is primarily focused on beekeeping experiences from our region and research we have performed.

[@XMIR10C]

@@BohemiaBees Thanks, I know they use heaters sometimes in northern states and canada in farmed hives. Makes sense, they got into my foundation cracks for a few years , I let them stay

[@chad_bee_2652]

abckauahs i lobe bees

[@chad_bee_2652]

bees are so scrimblo like feebee bouba

[@BohemiaBees]

👍🏻❤️🐝

[@_J.F_]

Entrance reducers that keeps the mite out? How does that work because I am sure the world would appreciate such an invention?

[@BohemiaBees]

Not sure what you are referring too?

[@johnerwin6541]

helps keep the miCe out....they like that warmth the bees generate..

[@_J.F_]

@@BohemiaBees Sorry! Misheard and thought you said mites when in fact you said mice 😂

[@davidlaing3798]

Mitey mouse

[@ykhemesh72]

You just put dry suger or you make it wet

[@BohemiaBees]

Dry sugar. They create excess moisture in the hive during winter so it acts as a wick

[@estefanisanchez127]

I found a lonely bee in my garden. Her wings were wet and she couldn't fly. Then she passed out. I brought her back to life I think and put her in a plant bowl thing so when she was better she could fly away but today I found her dead in the plant bowl frozen I think. So that brought me here. 💔 Can a be survive winter on her own?

[@BohemiaBees]

Typically no. Bees need to cluster in their cavity (hive) and use the stored resources as a colony (super-organism). Also any worker bee that leaves the hive to forage are at the end of their life anyway. Foraging worker bees are approximately 25-30 days of their 45-50 day total lifespan.

[@juliosdiy3206]

Oh nice, i thought they died.

[@riverrat7529]

that's not winter but thank you anyway

[@BohemiaBees]

Not sure I follow your comment?