Winter Cluster.
What do bees actually do in winter? No, they do not hibernate.
The bee colony contracts in cold temperatures to its spherical winter seat, the so-called winter cluster. The outer bees permanently generate heat by moving their flight muscles, so that inside
the cluster there are always temperatures between 20°C and 30°C. When there is frost, the bees stop breeding and put themselves into an energy-saving mode.
Photographed with the Smartphone on 21.12. through the flight hole into the hive: The downward sagging bee ball, the winter cluster, is clearly visible. There are a few dead bees on the wire
mesh. These will be transported outside as soon as the temperatures allow it.
2 days later, on December 23rd, it was so mild that the bees used the few minutes their crate is in the sun for a short trial flight.
Flying weather the day before Christmas. Kind of crazy, this winter.
Write a comment