When ‘BUZZZ’ BECOMES ‘BURRR’

Have you ever thought about how the honeybees stay warm in the winter? It's seriously impressive. These tiny insects are able to survive in all kinds of environments, and they've got some tricks up their sleeves to stay warm in cold weather.

Thermoregulation

They use a process called thermoregulation to generate heat. When it gets cold, the honeybees huddle together in a ball and start shivering. It's like they're having a little dance party to keep themselves warm. But they don't just rely on shaking their booties to stay warm. They also consume honey, which is their main source of energy. Honey is packed with sugar, which helps fuel their metabolism and keep them warm from the inside out. Eating also gives them the calories to burn for their hive-warming dance party.

Cluster

When the temperature drops below 60°F, these little insects form a huddle around the queen called a winter cluster. This cluster is formed in the brood chamber of the hive and can spread across several frames, but when it gets really cold, the cluster contracts down to just a few frames. The outer layer of bees in the cluster use their hairs to create an insulating coat to keep themselves warm, while the inner layer of bees is less compact and can move around more freely to access food and take care of any remaining brood.

The ideal temperature for the center of the cluster is 95°F, but the bees can survive with a lower average core temperature. And if it gets even colder than that, the bees start shaking their wings and bodies to generate heat. It's all pretty freakin' amazing if you ask me.

Plus, the worker bees are constantly rotating their position in the cluster to avoid getting too cold, moving from the outside to the inside to warm up. And the more bees there are in the cluster, the better chance they have of surviving the winter because they can access food and pass it to the center of the cluster more easily.

Bottom line, honeybees are seriously resourceful when it comes to staying warm in cold weather. It’s all just crazy stuff!

Kevin Woods
Creative Director & Beekeeper