The honey bee’s year begins on December 21, the winter solstice, and the start of our winter. The weather today is seasonal for central Arkansas. Temperatures hover around 45 with a light rain falling through the day, good weather for the bees. Colonies consume the least amount of their winter stores of food while confined in their hives at this temperature. The colony’s winter cluster of bees expands and contracts with the temperature. On warmer days, the cluster expands and consumes honey near the cluster. On colder days, the cluster contracts tightly, consuming honey to generate heat. Over the winter, the cluster eats honey above the cluster and moves slowly upward in the hive. On extended periods of cold weather, the constricted cluster may not move into available stored honey. The cluster remains in place, protecting its brood. Because colonies share their food, bees die at the same time when they run out of food, and a cluster may starve even with ample honey nearby. It is a frustration to find dead bees as shown today with their heads in the empty cells, the tell-tale sign of starvation, when there is plenty of honey only inches away.
On our first brief hive inspection on a warm day in late
winter, we merely check for live or dead colonies. If the bees are alive, we estimate
if there is enough food remaining in the hives to last until spring flowers
bring about a nectar flow. If a hive is short on remaining honey, we apply emergency
feeding of dry cane sugar to save the colony from starvation. If the bees have
starved, we protect the combs until next spring by stacking the boxes on strong
hives and distributing frames of honey to other hives that may need some extra
food. The Underhills of Peace Bee Farm encourage you to share your food and
warmth. To our friends of the great religions and traditions of the world, we
offer: Peace be with you.
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