How do bees survive the winter?

It would be a huge and catastrophic loss if one day the entire planet Earth were to, for whatever reason, do without bees.. Their work brings infinite benefits to the entire ecosystem, taking care of nature conservation and maintaining biodiversity.. We admire them in spring and summer, as they buzz tirelessly from flower to flower, but have you ever wondered How bees survive in winter when temperatures drop and nature goes to sleep?

Many think these extraordinary insects disappear or freeze until the sun returns. The reality is much more fascinating: during the cold months, the hive is a masterpiece of thermal engineering, collaboration, and sacrifice. Let's discover together what really happens inside a hive.

Do bees hibernate? The magic of the "Glomere"“

Let's immediately dispel one of the most widespread myths: bees don't go in hibernation. Unlike other insects or mammals, they do not fall into a deep sleep, because they have a vital task: protecting the queen bee and ensuring her survival.

When the outside temperature drops below 10-12°C, bees stop flying and retreat into the hive. Here they implement an astonishing strategy by forming the so-called glomerulus. It's a veritable living sphere: the bees huddle together around the queen. Through microscopic, continuous contractions of their chest muscles, they "tremble" in a coordinated fashion, generating heat.

This way, even if the sky is freezing outside, the heart of the cluster manages to maintain an internal temperature of up to 37°C. It's a perfect, collaborative heating system: the outermost bees, which act as an "insulating coat," eventually swap places with those deeper inside to avoid succumbing to the cold. No one is left behind.

Honey and pollen: vital supplies for heating

To produce all this heat, bees burn a lot of energy. Where do they get their "fuel"? From honey, of course! Bees produce honey because they feel the need to build up reserves of a sweetening and extremely energetic food..

During the year, especially between March and August, the work of bees, including collecting pollen and hive products is incessant. May, for example, marks the long-awaited flowering of the black locust (the prized acacia honey), while in July the nectar for the fragrant Linden honey, known for its characteristics, properties and benefits. The last flights of summer are dedicated to gathering ivy. This last nectar, often left uncollected by the beekeeper, is left in the hive as a precious winter reserve. By consuming these reserves, the bees draw energy to keep the cluster active.

Did you know? The fruit of bees' hard summer labor is such a special gift, perfect for celebrating the most important moments in our lives. Discover our exclusive and delicious treats. natural honey favors, a gesture of love towards your guests and towards nature.

Vital Differences: Summer Bees vs. Winter Bees (and the Fate of the Drones)

The activity and even the biology of the hive change dramatically during the cold months. A worker bee born in May has an average lifespan of only 30-40 days, literally worn out by the fatigue of foraging flights.

Around mid-July, the queen bee begins to stop laying eggs, moving towards "brood block." Bees born from the last autumn brood have a different biology: they possess greater body reserves and, since they don't wear out in the field, have a significantly longer lifespan. They can live up to 180 days, the exact time needed to ferry the family until the spring recovery.

And what about the drones? Since the males of the hive aren't needed to fertilize new queens during the winter, they would simply consume precious food supplies. For the greater good of the colony, the workers stop feeding them in the fall and expel them from the hive.

The fundamental role of the beekeeper during the cold season

Each bee family is a unique organism, with different behaviors and cold tolerances based on their genetics. Some colonies are more sensitive to the cold, but they compensate for this by excelling at collecting and using propolis to seal every crack in the hive. Propolis is essential for making the hive impenetrable to frost and predators..

Throughout all this, a careful beekeeper never abandons their apiary. Throughout the year, they must constantly monitor the health of their bees. If the supplies left in the summer prove insufficient, they intervene by providing "candy," a solid sugary food that helps the bees survive the winter. During the coldest months, the beekeeper strictly avoids opening the hives to avoid fatal temperature changes.

However, already at the end of February or on days when the temperature exceeds 14°C, the first magic begins to take place: the boldest bees come out to collect hazelnut pollen or to make short purifying flights, officially marking the beginning of a new, tireless spring.