A question I get asked A LOT this time of year is do honeybees hibernate?
Ok so first things first the bees have to make sure they have enough food to get them through the winter, all drones (boy bees) will be kicked out of the hive this is to save food for the bees that need it, as there are no mating flights happening overwinter the boys have no use and almost become a burden on those all-important winter food stores. Now although the bees don't leave the hive when it's cold they are still active inside the hive, they cluster together to generate heat the queen will be in the warmest part of the cluster and they will then move around the inside of the hive as a cluster to eat the food stores. The bees will stay like this most of the winter but if there is a warm enough day they may venture out for a cleansing flight (a poo) but if temperatures dip again they will head back to the cluster. Winter bees live for around 4-6months whereas summer bees live for a matter of weeks, some of this will be down to different physiological characteristics between summer and winter bees and of course the elements if you are out flying every day vs staying home in the warm eating every day there is, of course, going to be less wear and tear on the winter bees.
Also, let's just take a second to appreciate how beautiful my little fur babies are.
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