22/08/2026
And just like that….. the season has ended!
Although we are still officially still in Summer, the beekeeping season comes to an end. We remove all additional honey boxes and extract the last honey of the year. Leaving the bees enough honey to consume during winter.
🐝❄️ The Incredible Winter Survival of Honeybees 🍯
When winter arrives, a honeybee colony doesn’t simply go dormant. Inside the hive, thousands of bees work together to create their own living heating system! 🔥🐝
Here are some fascinating facts about how they survive the cold:
🌡️ They start clustering as temperatures fall below around 14°C. The bees gather tightly together, with the queen protected safely in the centre.
🔥 They generate heat by shivering! Worker bees contract their flight muscles without moving their wings. This muscle activity produces heat, rather like shivering does in humans.
🐝 The centre of the cluster can stay surprisingly warm. When the colony is actively maintaining the brood nest, temperatures around the brood can be kept close to 34–35°C—similar to their summer conditions.
❄️ The outside of the cluster is much colder. Bees on the outer layer can experience temperatures close to 7–10°C, while the bees inside remain considerably warmer.
🧥 They form a living blanket. Bees on the outside pack closely together, reducing heat loss, while bees inside the cluster can move towards the centre and feed.
🍯 Honey is their winter fuel. Bees eat stored honey to provide the energy needed to keep their muscles working and generate heat. As the cluster moves through the hive, they consume their food stores.
👑 The queen is never left alone. Worker bees surround and protect her, ensuring the colony can survive winter and begin building up again when conditions improve.
🌬️ They also have to manage moisture. A cold hive isn’t necessarily the biggest danger—condensation and excess moisture can be extremely harmful. Good hive management helps balance protection from the weather with adequate ventilation.
🧑🌾 What does the beekeeper do?
A beekeeper’s winter preparation is all about helping the bees help themselves.
Before winter, the beekeeper should ensure the colony:
🍯 Has adequate food stores
🐝 Has a healthy population of winter bees
🩺 Has been assessed and treated for important pests and diseases where appropriate
🏠 Has a secure, weather-resistant hive
🌬️ Has suitable ventilation and moisture management
🚪 Has an entrance that is appropriately managed and protected from unwanted visitors
The beekeeper doesn’t heat the hive—the bees are the heating system! 🔥
And that’s perhaps the most amazing part: a colony of thousands of tiny insects can work together to maintain a warm, stable environment even when the world outside is close to freezing.
🐝 Winter in the apiary may look quiet—but inside the hive, teamwork never stops. 🍯❄️
