Protecting bees before winter
Cécile de Produits-Veto
Pharmacy technician ·
The arrival of the cold season always represents a challenge for bee colonies. Indeed, the lack of flowers, low temperatures and humidity weaken hives. To protect bees before winter, the beekeeper must anticipate and implement targeted actions. The objective is simple: to offer colonies the best survival conditions and preserve their vitality until spring.
Why protecting bees before winter is essential
Bees play a major role in pollination. Without them, biodiversity and our crops would be threatened. Yet winter puts their survival to a severe test. Bees must group together to maintain the warmth of the hive, which quickly exhausts them. A lack of resources or poor preparation weakens the entire colony.
The challenges and difficulties faced by colonies
Several factors complicate wintering:
- Insufficient food: without reserves of honey or supplements, colonies risk starving.
- Excessive humidity: it favors the development of mold in the hive.
- Parasites such as varroa: they weaken bees and compromise their immunity.
- Climatic variations: mild winters followed by cold snaps can disorient bees.
Recommended solutions for properly preparing hives
To protect bees before winter, several simple but effective actions can be implemented:
1. Check and supplement food reserves
Bees must have sufficient reserves. If honey is too scarce, the beekeeper can resort to supplements:
2. Treat against varroa
Varroa is a formidable enemy of bees. Suitable treatment is essential before winter:
3. Protecting the hive from moisture and cold
Hive insulation is essential. You need to:
- Install a slightly sloped floor to prevent water stagnation.
- Check the roof's watertightness.
- Add natural insulation (wood shavings, beekeeping cushions).
4. Reducing hive entrances
Limiting drafts helps maintain internal heat. A grid or reduced entrance is often used, while still allowing bees to circulate.
FAQ – Vous avez des questions ?
How can I tell if my bees have enough reserves for winter?
The simplest method is to weigh the hive by lifting it slightly from the back. A hive that is too light indicates that the honey reserves are insufficient to get through the cold season. On average, a colony needs 15 to 20 kg of food to overwinter safely. If this threshold is not reached, it is advisable to provide supplementary feeding in the form of syrup or protein paste, in order to avoid the risk of starvation during overwintering.
When should hives be treated against varroa?
Treatment should be carried out after the last honey harvest, before temperatures become too low. This is when winter bees develop, and it is essential that they be in good health to ensure the colony's survival. A suitable varroa treatment reduces parasitic pressure and limits the spread of associated viruses. This increases the longevity of winter bees and improves the colony's chances of recovery in spring.
What is the minimum temperature bees can withstand?
Bees can tolerate temperatures close to 0 °C, even slightly negative ones, provided the colony is strong and the hive is well insulated. To survive, they cluster together in a compact group and produce heat through slight wing vibrations. However, this effort consumes a lot of energy and depletes their reserves. A long winter, or one punctuated by mild spells followed by frost, can weaken the colony and lead to significant losses if food supplies are insufficient.
To find out more:
- Overwintering hives – miel-direct.fr
- Pest category – produits-veto.com
- Colony vitality category – produits-veto.com
