Our maple trees have been tapped, our evaporator is boiling away, and our maple sugaring season has begun! Sweet maple syrup brings to mind other natural sweets, like honey. Have you ever wondered what honey bees do in the winter?
Honey bees are cold-blooded—their body temperature reflects the temperature in their environment. To survive, honey bees need a way to increase and maintain a warmer temperature during the cold winter months. Not surprisingly, just as busy bees work as a team to create their marvelous honey, they also work as a team to keep each other cozy.
When the temperature dips below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, honey bees snuggle together in a “cluster” in the confines of their hive. Movement generates energy, and energy generates heat, so when their body temperatures begin to drop to dangerous levels, they start moving. The bees on the inner core of the cluster vibrate their wing muscles, while bees on the outside layer, or “mantle,” pack together as tightly as possible to make a dense, insulating barrier. Each bee takes its turn in the inner core to generate warmth, and then rotates to the outer mantle to help keep the warmth inside.
Honey bees team up for food duty, too. Bees closest to the source of the hive’s store of honey pass it along to the bees that are farthest away. It takes a lot of food to maintain this level of energy, which is why it important for beekeepers to keep careful track of the amount of honey they harvest. The bees will need a good store of it to survive the winter!
In celebration of nature’s sweet treats, join us for our annual Sap-to-Syrup Farmer’s Breakfast, Saturday and Sunday, March 15 and 16, from 9:00 am-1:00 pm. Call 781-259-2218 for tickets!