By: David Burns
Honey bees in the Spring and Summer typically have a relatively short existence of around forty-five days. Their days are filled with tireless activities such as constructing comb, collecting nectar and nurturing young bees. This remarkable dedication often leads them to work ceaselessly, pushing themselves to the brink of an early demise. However, during this period, the queen reaches the pinnacle of her egg-laying capacity, laying up to two thousand eggs a day, rapidly replacing the aging workforce. But what happens in the Fall and Winter? How do these diligent bees, with their fleeting forty-five-day lifespans, manage to survive the unforgiving grip of a long, cold, harsh Winter?
If you already find this tiny creator amazing, there’s more! When a colony senses a dearth, a period when nectar is no longer available, they begin to raise bees of a unique physiology, often referred to as bees of Winter physiology.
To better understand bees of Winter physiology, it is like what happens where I live when a Winter snow storm is predicted. We rush out to buy bread and toilet paper. Even though we know we probably won’t be snowed in, we are prepared, nonetheless. This ceremonial pursuit is a testament to our collective desire to be self-reliant and resilient in the face of nature’s whims. It is a nod to our shared history of weathering storms and emerging stronger on the other side.
Honey bees are able to raise a unique generation of long-lived bees in the Fall, enabling them to endure the frigid temperatures and scarcity of resources during Winter for four to eight months.
This special cohort of bees known as bees of Winter physiology are brought about through a modified nutritional environment and pheromone signals in the hive.
Winter bees possess distinct physiological traits that set them apart from their short-lived sisters. These adaptations enable them to endure the harsh conditions of Winter and sustain the colony until the return of Spring. Some notable characteristics of Winter bees include:
Extended Lifespan: Winter bees are capable of living four to eight months, thanks to physiological adjustments and enhanced resilience.
Efficient Energy Storage: In preparation for Winter’s scarcity, these exceptional bees prioritize the accumulation of vital reserves in their fat bodies, a strategic stockpile that will fuel them through the barren months when sustenance is scarce.
Enhanced Cold Tolerance: Winter bees exhibit an impressive ability to withstand low temperatures.
Reduced Metabolic Rate: To conserve energy, Winter bees lower their metabolic rate, allowing them to stretch their limited energy resources over an extended period.
Enough of the science behind it. How can we take this knowledge and greatly enhance our colonies’ ability to survive Winter? Years ago, I began to experiment as a citizen scientist because I noticed so much of my young developing brood was perishing in the Fall and drying up in the base of cells. After years of research, I realized the nurse bees were few in number and were deprived of the resources they needed to produce enough royal jelly to feed the newly developing bees of Winter physiology. I armed myself with the passion of feeding my bees a mixture of sugar water with additives in the Fall that would not only prompt the queen to lay more but allow the nurse bees to produce sufficient amounts of royal jelly to feed and raise the much-needed Winter workforce. It worked!
I’ve documented my findings on my YouTube channel for many years, so let me explain what works for me. When the nectar flow ends in my area, I make note and wait two to three weeks. This is to allow time for the colony to sense and shift gears to raise bees of Winter physiology. Then, to support this Winter shift of brood, I begin feeding my colonies one to one sugar water with protein powder, and other additives. This seems to trigger my queen to lay more brood and allows my nurse bees to raise several frames of Fall bees. Bees of Winter physiology.
Beekeepers often make the mistake of assessing their hives as being heavily populated in late Summer and are ready for Winter. However, in the north, this is deceptive. Every bee we see in late Summer will be dead by the first day of Winter. Instead, we should be looking for frames and frames of capped over brood in September and October. Those will be the bees that we will see again in the Spring.
Another amazing aspect of bees of Winter physiology is that they seem not to be restricted by age-progressive work. They are able to almost stay suspended in time, waiting for Spring when they can resume their work in raising more brood.
The survival of honey bee colonies through Winter is a testament to the intricate strategies and adaptations they employ. The cultivation of bees of Winter physiology exemplifies the colony’s resilience and ability to adapt to challenging environments. As the days grow shorter and temperatures drop, honey bees expertly raise a specialized generation of long-lived Winter bees, equipping their colony with the endurance and strength needed to overcome the frigid months ahead. Their remarkable ability to sustain themselves during this time is a testament to the awe-inspiring complexity of nature’s design.
If you’d like to watch my video on how to raise bees of Winter physiology, visit: https://www.honeybeesonline.com/davids-youtube-channel
