December in the Sweet Drop Apiary

December is the quietest month for bees and beekeepers alike. Our bees are in their winter cluster – secure, warm, dry and well-provisioned if we beekeepers have done our job properly – and will not be seen outside the hive unless on a cleansing flight or to collect water. The population of each hive is now very much diminished, as few as 5,000 bees, and these form a cluster with the queen and remaining brood at the centre. The priority now is heat conservation and the protection of queen, brood and colony through the coldest months of the year. The cluster is formed with an outer shell of bees facing inwards, abdomens outwards, creating an insulating layer against heat loss: the bees can also protrude their stings should an intruder threaten the cluster. Within this outer shell the bees can move freely and can access their stores – vital as they maintain heat in the centre of the cluster by eating honey and vibrating their strong flight muscles. Larvae also produce heat by consuming food. During a broodless period the temperature within the cluster is between 20-30C. The cluster can expand or contract to maintain this range and ensure that the outer wall does not get too cold. Bees from the centre will change places with bees from the outer layer to give them some time in the warmth and the cluster will loosen from time to time in order to move to a new area. In very cold weather the bees may be unable to move far enough and can perish through isolation starvation – beekeeper vigilance is required here. Regularly check your bees.