It's just warm enough for the bees to fly today. They have been cooped up for several weeks, due to the extremely low temperatures (from about 10C to -5C). Today is about 13C (at the time of observation), overcast, with light winds.
There were quite a few dead bees in the snow around the hive a week ago. I presume they came out in response to a sunny warmish day - and found that it was colder than they thought [sic].
Did they take off and then crash and die? Or did they come in for landing and not make it onto the landing board? But for sure, when they hit the snow, they were doomed.
All the books say is "They will come out to defecate and then return to the hive". They don't say "Some bees will have suicidal tendencies".
So I continue to observe, learn and puzzle. The more I see, the less I know. However, I am relieved that they are still in the hive in good numbers. They have plenty of food (see previous blog on giving them some Apifonda - like bakers' fondant icing). So all bodes well today.
I must get a good thermometer to record the temperature at which various behaviours occur.
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Hi , I' m Peris from Greece, also a novice beekeeper. Forgive me for my English, I' m doing my best!
ReplyDeleteI would like to ask you how much does it cost to your country the apifonda food, because as I read you are using it.
Here it cost about 1.4 euro , and we use a cheaper food (1 E) but no so good.Or we are making are own food, with honey & sugar.
About the dead bees on the snow, when the temperature rises they come out of the hive to fly and collect pollen etc., but if the temperature is not hi enough they freezing before they can reach the hive and die just outside. You can see that when there is snow all around and the sun rise up , they belied of the sun and come out with the result's you faced.
Thank you very much!!!
Hello Peris, your English is excellent!
ReplyDeletehere, Apifonda costs about the same. But it's very good for the winter.