New look at the processes which take place in the bee family during wintering.
In early spring new tests of wintering families gave us very interesting results. When the sun warms the hives, the bees inside start their usual in-hive works, which are not different from the summer ones. Using our device for acoustic control of bee families Apivox Auditor, we could see the usual set of in-hive signals - signals of bees performing different jobs and the signals of passive bees resting in the warmest upper part of the hive, under the textile coverage of the frames. We could also see the signals of ventilation. In one of the beehives, for some time, we could observe signals of bees, feeding larvae. But, closer to sunset, it became colder, and all the in-hive works ceased, and the bees again returned to the almost silent heating of their winter "ball". Observations of the acoustic signals of bees' families of different breeds during the year led us to the following conclusions: 1) Bees, irrespective of the season, perform the same in-hive works. The only difference - is the absence of signals, associated with honey collection and brood rearing. In autumn, there are no signals of brood care; in winter and autumn there are no signals associated with honey collection. The pattern of the remaining signals is identical throughout the year. 2) During the wintering period, in-hive works do not stop, but are performed in smaller volumes. Outwardly this can be expressed in a decrease in the loudness of the general background sound of the family, up to almost complete absence of it. 3) In winter, the volume of works performed by the family depends on the temperature inside and outside the winter "ball" of hibernating bees. When the outside temperature rises, the "ball" of bees becomes larger and more spacious, so the bees can increase the amount of performed works, and can even begin to rear the brood. 4) It can be argued that there is no "specific" reaction of bees to impacts or irritants in winter. This means that anxiety from mites or increase in the level of CO2 leads to the usual, the same as in summer, reaction of bees - to appearance of excitation and anxiety signals in the range between 400 and 450Hz, increment of ventilation in the range 70-180Hz, and to additional increment of the amount of bees, who's job is to feed a more active family. So, all our observations have shown that the life of bees in winter and summer does not differ in principle. Inside the hive, where temperatures are comfortable, the life of the bee family proceeds unchanged during the whole year, with performance of all necessary works. These works are all needed for maintenance of life, and for reproduction.
Countries
Germany, Spain, France, Poland, Romania, United Kingdom, United States