🐝🍂 Autumn Equinox: What Are Our School Bees Doing Now?
On 22 September, we marked the autumn equinox – the days are getting shorter, temperatures are dropping, and our school bees are also preparing for winter.
🏡 Inside the Hive the bees are gathering the last supplies (honey and pollen) and consolidating the hive – they are reducing brood production and preparing for the colder months. From late summer/autumn onwards, winter bees are being raised. These bees live much longer (up to 6 months) compared to summer bees and are hardier, enabling them to sustain the hive through winter. They form a cluster around the queen to keep her warm, vibrating their wings to generate heat. Additionally, the hive is thoroughly cleaned to prevent mould and diseases.
🌼 Outside the Hive, on warm days, the bees still fly out to collect nectar and pollen from late-blooming plants. They can still find heather, dandelions, sunflowers, autumn anemones and ivy. The bees also collect water in autumn to process honey and keep the hive humid.
What Are Beekeepers Doing in Autumn?
Beekeepers check if the bees have enough supplies for winter. If not, they provide sugar syrup or fondant. In autumn, treating against Varroa mites is particularly important to keep the bees healthy. They also check if the hive is strong enough to survive winter. Weak colonies are merged or supported. Some beekeepers add insulation to the hives to protect the bees from the cold.
This way, the bees can start winter strong and healthy.
A peek into the hive: Preparing the bees for the colder months
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