Words from the Hive: Bee prepared for winter

by Christine Hrenya, Ph.D. Engineering
What the honeybees are up to…
Like their human counterparts, the Bozeman honeybees spend much of October readying their home for the long winter ahead.
On one hand, it is important to have ventilation in the hive in order to keep the humidity levels down. Like us, when honeybees breathe, they produce CO2 and H20. For every 40 lbs of honey the colony consumes (typical winter consumption is 60-90 lbs in Montana), approximately 12 L of water is produced! Humidity levels which are too high cause problems. Extremely high levels can lead to “raining” in the hive when the moist, warm air hits the cold roof and condenses. Imagine having a hole in your room during a non-stop rainstorm – you would not survive long, and neither do the bees. And even without such raining, high humidity levels foster the growth of diseases, fungi, and mold.
On the other hand, too much ventilation may result in unnecessary heat loss. The bees generate heat needed to keep the hive warm in winter by shaking. The more they shake, the more honey they need to eat. And if they run out of honey, the hive gets too cold and the colony perishes. So during the month of October, the bees are busy caulking all of the gaps in the hive in order to make it less drafty. And what do they use for caulk, you ask? They make their own caulk, known as propolis, from tree sap! Back in the hive, the HVAC bees mix the tree sap with honey, wax, and enzymes from their stomachs. The resulting super-sticky mixture is then used to seal any openings in the hive except the entrance.
What the beekeepers are up to…
Doing their part to help the bees ensure good ventilation and insulation. Ensuring adequate honey stores for the months ahead. Double- and triple-checking the bearproofing, as honey is a tasty, calorie-loaded treat for bears getting ready to hibernate.
What the non-beekeepers can do…
Do your best to keep the bears out of the neighborhood. Make trash cans inaccessible – keep them indoors or use bear-proof containers. Harvest fruit and vegetables as they ripen. Do not add meat, fish or bones to the compost pile. Clean your grill. Store pet food inside. Do not store food in your car. And share these tips with your neighbors – it takes a village!