Bees are fascinating animals and essential to our survival. Unlike many insects, bees do not hibernate during the winter. They have impressive strategies to prepare for the coldest season and ensure their survival. In this article, we'll find out how bees cope with winter and how their intelligence ensures that their hives remain healthy and productive.
Preparing the hive
When autumn arrives, the hive enters a phase of preparation. The bees begin to reduce their activity, as honey production decreases, and focus on maintaining an ideal temperature inside the hive. The secret to winter survival lies not only in the honey they store, but also in their organisation and cooperation strategies.
To ensure that the hive stays warm, the bees create a kind of heat "ball" in the centre of the hive. The older bees, responsible for thermoregulation, form a tight circle around the queen, protecting her from the cold. They also seal the entrance to the hive with resins and wax, creating a kind of natural "door" that protects them from other animals, such as rodents, and helps to maintain a constant internal temperature.
During the coldest days, bees flap their wings to generate heat, keeping the temperature in the hive between 33 ºC and 36 ºC. This process is important because if the temperature drops below 5 ºC, the bees risk dying.
This is why teamwork is essential to ensure that the bees survive and keep the queen alive.
The queen is essential for the survival of the hive during the winter, as she is solely responsible for laying eggs and ensuring the hive continues the following year. However, during the winter, her main function is to maintain the harmony of the hive and coordinate the efforts of the bees to ensure the survival of their offspring until spring. The queen spends most of her time in the centre of the hive, protected and warmed by the bees.
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