Wintering bees in the wild: under the snow, without insulation

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

An important and responsible period in beekeeping is the preservation of their pets in the "combat squad" in the cold seasons. It is imperative to choose the right way for the bees to live at this time, since now there are many interesting and economical options.

What is a bee hibernation

Successful stay of these heat-loving insects in the cold, one might say, is one of the most difficult tasks in beekeeping, because imagine - for a long time (from 2 to 5 months, depending on the climatic characteristics of the region) pets are in the least mobile state ever.

At the same time, it is necessary to take care not only about their comfortable stay, but also about the reserves, which should be enough for the winter period. There are several types of bees staying in the cold season:

• wintering of bees in the wild (we will talk about this in more detail in this article);
• wintering of bees in a omshanik (it can be either a specially created winter hut or an ordinary basement of a privatehome).

Throughout the cold season, it is important to monitor the condition of the bees - it is enough to do it once a month, listening to their movements inside, using a specially designed tube. With the help of noise, a number of problems can be identified: if the sound is strong enough, then this indicates a deterioration in the he alth of the inhabitants, which is caused by several factors.

Cold Problems

One of the main difficulties in bee wintering is the temperature mismatch. The fact is that older insects and those that were bred according to the species of the northern regions tolerate the cold better than younger and southerners. Therefore, it is desirable to have bees of the same breed.

An important problem is also the fact that the body of these insects is designed in such a way: from excess moisture or, conversely, from overdried air, bees can begin to have he alth problems, since they need to stay constantly and year-round in as close to natural conditions. There is always an alternative to this factor - the wintering of bees in the wild without insulation is similar in nature to the natural habitat of insects.

Do not forget about the accumulation in the intestines of waste products that remain from the last processing of honey. Unfortunately, the body of bees is designed in such a way that they can defecate only during the spring flyby, so sometimes such phenomena cause death.

What is needed for a successful wintering

First you need to decide howinsects will endure the cold - in the wild or still in the lomshanik. It depends on the financial capabilities of the beekeeper, and on the breed of insects. The wintering of bees in the wild excludes any painstaking preparations for the premises, unlike the second option, so if a winter hut is chosen as a place, it should be carefully adapted.

But with any method chosen, it is imperative to pay special attention to a sufficient supply of feed. There should not be enough of them so that the insects do not starve, but you should not overfeed them, leaving excessive supplies.

Particular attention should be paid to the composition of the bee family - among them there should be young growth from the latest brood, as well as reproductive queens.

And most importantly, before wintering, it is necessary to carry out preventive work in accordance with sanitary standards. During the cold period, bees should not be disturbed by pests that carry various infections.

Wintering bees without a queen

It is known that queenless families are doomed to death, since the bees have no possibility of further fertilization. But do not forget that some families with their presence are also at great risk, since certain individuals are simply incapable of procreation.

What to do if the wintering of bees in the wild risks being left without a queen in the family? Do not panic - you can fix everything in the fall. To do this, you need to pay attention to the state of the family - if itfat, then it should be knocked out, but if it is thin, then it is better to leave this family for wax. Then you need to choose the rejected one from the available ones, and pick up the queen from there, which should be moved to the queenless family.

But this is not enough for a successful wintering. To ensure that the bee survives in someone else's brood, you need to add a few old bees from other hives for reproduction.

But if a queenless family was discovered a week before wintering, then it is better not to take risks and not deal with the amendment - all the same, in this case and with such terms, success is too small. Since there are no guarantees that a young, newly introduced queen will not lose in mating with a drone. Therefore, under the circumstances, one can only hope for success.

What is the wintering of bees in the wild

Free wintering is good because the first flight of bees begins a month earlier than those who winter in basements and omshaniki. Therefore, by the time the families are released from the premises with the first sunny spring days, insects in free conditions already have up to four brood frames.

With free living throughout the cold period, special attention should be paid to the condition of the hives, since their walls tend to get damp, which favors the growth of mold directly in the combs.

Therefore, it is advisable to wrap them with thick black paper since autumn, and cover them with dry foliage on top - this will help the winter dwelling to keep warm and dry for as long as possible. You can additionallyinsulate them with either industrial film or tar paper.

Don't forget that in cold times, bees may lack ventilation, so you should listen to them and, if necessary, carefully add fresh air.

Winter under snow

Another way to preserve the family in the cold season is the wintering of bees in the wild under the snow. This method includes the above, but at the same time the hives are covered with snow, without any exceptions and bends. Snow breaks through in the spring or during the thaw period, when crusts form on top. At the same time, before the cold weather, each hive must be wrapped with some material that can isolate heat flows.

This type of wintering is good because the bees are ready for the first flight already with early spring thaw, but it also has its drawbacks. For example, if the winter is snowless, then the hives are left without reliable protection, which worsens their condition. To do this, it is recommended to attach thin wooden boards to the dwelling, which act as additional protection against frost. In general, they can be left after the snow has fallen, and until spring comes, in which case the pieces of wood play the role of additional protection of bees from birds.

Wintering bees in the wild in Siberia

It is known that in cold regions, for example, in Siberia, bee colonies are stronger, therefore they are able to endure frosts in the open air. Therefore, often in such places these insects hibernate in the wild.

As mentioned above, it is most important to protect the hives from drafts, since the wintering of bees in the wild in Western Siberia is, first of all, a serious test for insects, because the winds in these places are strong and very cold during the cold period.

Therefore, it is extremely important to protect homes from destructive external factors, not only from weather conditions, but also from rodents and birds. Do not forget that the hives of the southern breeds of insects should be insulated more strongly than the Central Russian ones, since they are less resistant to the Siberian cold. Since there is more than enough snow in this region for a successful wintering, it is recommended to cast them with high quality from the very beginning of winter and not disturb them anymore.

Cold season in the Moscow region

This region has a rather damp climate during the cold season, despite a sufficient average amount of snow (about half a meter, sometimes more). Therefore, the wintering of bees in the wild in the Moscow region should begin with high-quality preparation and insulation of the hives.

In order to prevent mold from forming inside due to the peculiarities of the local climate, it is necessary to artificially increase the space under the frame, due to which a special air cushion is formed, which adds dryness and warmth to the winter dwelling.

Besides this, for additional heat preservation, it is desirable to place families close to each other.

However, the undoubted advantage of the climate in the Moscow region is that the temperature herefluctuates in a small amplitude during the day, so there are no special differences, and the bees endure wintering in the wild calmly.

Wintering in Bashkiria

Due to the rather mild climate in these places, the wintering of bees in the wild in Bashkiria proceeds calmly. Moreover, the hives do not need special insulation, as, for example, in Siberia. And the climate here is less humid than in the Moscow region in nearby areas.

For the local temperate continental climate, it is enough to follow the advice that was described above regarding the free stay of bees in the cold season.