WINTERING BEES.
False and True Hybernation--Temperature of Hive in Winter--
Necessity for Quiet during Winter--Structure and
Winter-packing of Bar-Frame Hives--Prevention of Draught and
Condensation of Vapour--Supply of Water.
The honey-bee differs from nearly all the wild varieties, as well as
from hornets and wasps, in being adapted to live always in societies.
Most other insects of the hymenopterous order become torpid in
winter, or perish, with the exception of some queens, who survive to
continue the race. Those which really hybernate are able to endure
a considerable degree of cold; and, thawing under the influence of
warmth, they can resume the functions of life. It is not so, however,
with bees. Queens alone would be quite unable to continue the race,
as they could neither build comb, nor supply food to the larvæ, nor
keep up the heat required for the development of the young. For all
these purposes, workers in considerable numbers are necessary. But
this very concourse implies the production of heat by respiration;
and, as a matter of fact, we find that all through the coldest weather
of winter a temperature of over 60° Fahr. is maintained in the hive.
As a result of this, bees do not really hybernate, or even become
dormant. When cold is very intense, they maintain a constant tremulous
motion, as if they knew that the expenditure of muscular fibre would,
by the consequent oxygenation, cause the evolution of heat; or, as if
cognisant of the most modern theories of "heat as a mode of motion,"
they were aware that the very flapping of their wings would tend to
raise the temperature of their dwelling.
A bee is chilled by a less degree of warmth than 50° Fahr.; and if
actually frozen, or exposed to cold at or near the freezing point of
water, it cannot be revived. These facts have a very important bearing
on the art of apiculture. For, in the first place, it may easily be
understood that, if bees are tempted abroad by sunshine in winter, or
when a bitter wind is blowing, they may perish by hundreds, through
becoming torpid with cold while resting a few minutes in some shade, or
by being chilled in the ungenial air. For this reason it is advisable
to shelter hives from the mid-day and afternoon sun, as the danger just
alluded to increases with the lateness of the hour at which the bees
may be enticed abroad by the sunshine.
Then, secondly, it must be remembered that, as the bees are animate
all through the winter, a constant consumption of stores is going on,
and that disastrous consequences may ensue from mistaken notions as to
their remaining torpid, and needing no more food than do hybernating
dormice or polar bears.
Thirdly, as an easy deduction from the foregoing facts, everything
which stirs the bees to activity, such as supplying fresh food,
or disturbing the hives for any other purpose, means an increased
consumption of nutriment, proportional to the activity aroused.
Fourthly, any general excitement in cold weather, leading to the
wandering of individuals from the cluster, entails the risk of their
being chilled, and rendered so inactive as not to be able to return to
the warmest part of the hive, and consequently perishing.
These facts further suggest the importance of taking measures to
prevent, as far as possible, the escape of warmth from the hive.
Various precautions are adopted for this purpose. The straw skep is,
in itself, a bad conductor of heat, and if made thick and strong, will
usually enable the bees to maintain a sufficiently high temperature.
Still, in excessively cold seasons, it is advisable to wrap straw hives
round with matting, sacking, or some other material, in order still
further to guard against chilling.
With bar-frame hives several points should be attended to. In the
first place, it is a great advantage to have their walls double, with
an air-space between them. It is even better to fill this space with
cork-dust, saw-dust, bran, or chaff, to prevent any circulation of air
between the outer and inner walls.
Then, it is important to remove empty combs at the beginning of the
cold season, and to confine the bees in as small a space as possible,
so that their number, constantly diminishing in winter, may suffice to
keep up the necessary temperature.
Again, it is of some moment to see that there are no considerable
apertures in the coverings of the frames, or in the corners of the
hive, by which a current of warm air out of, and cold air into, the
hive may be set up.
Once more, if cushions of chaff be placed behind the frames, to fill
up some of the empty parts of the hive, an additional security will be
furnished against the lowering of the temperature.
In order still further to prevent separation from the cluster, and
unnecessary activity, the most skilled apiarians recommend that, in
autumn, holes should be made through the combs, near their tops, to
serve as passages from one to another, as they are emptied of honey,
without the necessity of the bees going down to the bottoms of the
combs, in order to reach the other sides or different combs.
Another point of great importance in wintering bees, is the prevention
of the moisture, produced by their breathing, from condensing in the
hive. It should either be allowed to escape by upward ventilation,
as strongly recommended by Langstroth, or by laying over the frames
of wooden hives a porous material, which at the same time prevents
the escape of heat. Light matting, covered with thicknesses of
house-flannel or old blanketing, will answer the purpose very well. The
constant evaporation from the upper surface will prevent dampness to
any serious degree in the lower thicknesses of material. For ourselves,
we prefer the method which most effectually prevents the escape of
heat, while also securing that vapour shall not be unduly condensed.
The question of ventilation, especially in winter, is still under
debate. It is alleged, on the one hand, that it must be of advantage
to get rid of all products of respiration, and that this can only
be done effectually, by leaving a passage for the air supposed to
be vitiated by the breathing of the bees. On the other hand, it is
asserted, and the fact is incontrovertible, that the insects themselves
most sedulously stop every crack and cranny, above all, in the tops
of their hives; and seem to strive, by all means in their power, to
prevent the escape of air, which would carry away warmth. The argument
is that their natural instinct is certain to be right that it can only
have arisen, or been bestowed, for the benefit of the bees. We must
acknowledge there is great force in this reasoning; and we prefer,
therefore, to secure both the theoretical point relating to sufficient
ventilation, and the practical recognition of the preference of the
bees for complete coverings, by using the materials we have recommended
above, leaving no apertures for the direct escape of air and warmth at
the top of the hives.
The German apiarians lay considerable stress on the necessity of
supplying the stocks with water so long as any breeding is going on.
Von Berlepsch and G. Eberhardt, in an article in the _Bienenzeitung_,
write as follows: "The Creator has given the bee an instinct to store
up honey and pollen, which are not always to be procured, but not
water, which is always accessible in her native regions. In northern
latitudes, when confined to the hive, often for months together, they
can obtain the water they need only from the watery particles contained
in the honey, the perspiration which condenses on the colder parts of
the hive, or the humidity of the air which enters their hives.
"Vital energy in the bee is at its lowest point in November and
December. If, at this time, an unusual degree of cold does not force
her to resort to muscular action, she remains almost motionless,
a deathlike silence prevailing in the hive; and we know by actual
experiment, that much less food is consumed than at any other time.
Breeding having ceased, the weather-bound bees have no demands made on
their vital action, and we have never known them at this time suffer
from want of water. As soon, however, as the queen begins to lay, which
occurs in many colonies early in January, and in some by Christmas, the
workers must eat more freely, both of honey and pollen, to supply jelly
for the larvæ, and wax for sealing their cells. Much more water is
needed for these purposes than when they can procure the fresh nectar
of flowers, and the want of it begins to be felt about the middle of
January. _The unmistakable signs of the dearth of water in a colony,
are found in the granules of candied honey on the bottom of the hive_."
These authors go on further to say: "After protracted and severe
winters, of every six bees that perish, five die for want of water,
and not, as was hitherto supposed, from undue accumulation of fæces.
Dysentery is one of the direct consequences of water-dearth, the bees
in dire need of water consuming honey immoderately, and taking cold by
roaming about the combs."
In our climate there is, usually, throughout the winter such an
abundance of moisture in the air, that the point of complete saturation
is often reached, and, except in very exceptional seasons, there
will be little need to supply water to the hive before March. As a
precautionary measure, however, we see no reason why some may not be
given earlier, if great care is taken against its escape among the
combs. For safety on this point, it would be best to give it in shallow
troughs or pans at the bottom of the hive.