What Happens to Bees During the Winter

Have you ever wondered what happens to bees during the winter? Luckily for you, we’re here to provide the answer to that exact question. After conducting much research and education on bees, we’ve provided a detailed explanation of what exactly bees do during the winter months and how it differs from the other seasons. Keep reading to find out!

Honeybees Stay Active

Wasps and some bees hibernate during the winter months, but honeybees don’t. Instead, they remain active throughout the winter months. The winter season can be harsh, with freezing temperatures and a lack of plants and flowers—but that’s okay. Honeybees can find alternative ways to keep themselves and their colonies heated, active, and fed.

They Need Honey, and So Do We

Just like anything, honeybees need food to survive, and ultimately, they stay warm and fed with honey. This is exactly why they work so hard during the summer months. Overcompensating while collecting nectar during the summer months allows them to store large amount of honey for the winter months. They get to stay active and buzzing during the winter months, and beekeepers can still collect honey during for our own uses. This keeps the beekeepers working and the raw honey in our pantries.

They Provide Their Own Heat

How cool is it that bees can provide their own sources of heat to stay warm and active during the winter months? What they do is flex their flight muscles to create a vibration that ultimately raises their body temperature.

With their ability to stay warm and fed during the winter months, the answer to the question, “What happens to bees during the winter months?” is that they continue to thrive! Some aspects of their lives change, but ultimately, they stay active during the colder months. Bees continue to impress us every day, and this just adds to that.