An important and responsible period in beekeeping is the preservation of one’s pets in the “military structure” during the cold seasons. It is imperative to choose the right way to live the bees at this time, since now there are many interesting and economical options.
What is a bee wintering
The successful stay of these thermophilic insects in the cold can be said to be one of the most difficult tasks in beekeeping, because imagine - for a long time (from 2 to 5 months, depending on the climatic characteristics of the region), the pets are in the least mobile state than ever.
At the same time, it is necessary to take care not only of their comfortable stay, but also of the reserves that should be enough for the winter period. There are several types of stay of bees in the cold season:
- wintering of bees in the wild (we will talk about this in more detail in this article);
- wintering of bees in Omshanik (this can be either a specially created winter hut or an ordinary basement of a private house).
Throughout the cold pore, it is important to monitor the condition of the bees - it is enough to do this once a month, listening to their movements inside, using a specially created tube. Using noise, you can identify a number of problems: if the sound is strong enough, then this indicates a deterioration in the health of the inhabitants, which is caused by several factors.
Cold problems
One of the main difficulties in bee wintering is the temperature mismatch. The fact is that older insects and those that were bred by species of the northern regions tolerate cold better than younger and southerners. Therefore, it is desirable to have bees of the same breed.
An important problem is also the fact that the body of these insects is arranged in such a way: from excess moisture or, conversely, from overdried air, bees can have health problems, since they need to stay constantly and year-round in conditions as close as possible to natural conditions. There is always an alternative to this factor - wintering of bees in the wild without warming is similar in nature to the natural habitat of insects.
Do not forget about the accumulation in the intestines of the waste that remains from the recent processing of honey. Unfortunately, the bees' body is designed so that they can defecate only during the spring flyby, so sometimes these phenomena cause death.
What is necessary for a successful wintering
First you need to decide how insects will tolerate cold - in the wild or in Omshanik. It depends on the financial capabilities of the beekeeper, and on the breed of insects. Wintering of bees in the wild excludes any painstaking preparation of the room, unlike the second option, so if a winter hut is chosen as a place, it should be carefully adapted.
But with any method chosen, it is imperative to pay special attention to a sufficient supply of feed. They should not be enough so that insects do not starve, but you can not overfeed them, leaving excessive reserves.
Particular attention should be paid to the composition of the bee family - among them should be young stock from the latest brood, as well as reproductive uterus.
And most importantly - before wintering, it is necessary to carry out preventive work in accordance with sanitary standards. In the cold period, bees should not be disturbed by pests that spread various infections.
Wintering of bees without a uterus
It is known that bezelless families are doomed to death, since bees do not have the possibility of further fertilization. But do not forget that some families with their presence are also at great risk, as certain individuals are simply incapable of procreation.
What to do if wintering of bees in the wild risks being left without a uterus in the family? Do not panic - you can fix everything in the fall. To do this, you need to pay attention to the condition of the family - if it is obese, then it should be knocked out, but if it is leaky, then it is better to leave this family to wax. Then you need to select the rejected one from the available ones, and take the uterus from there, which should be moved to the uterine free family.
But this is not enough for a successful wintering. To ensure that the bee can withstand in someone else's brood, you need to add a few old bees from other hives for breeding.
But if a bezelless family was discovered a week before wintering, then it is better not to take risks and not to engage in correction - it’s all the same in this matter and with such deadlines, success is too small. Since there is no guarantee that a young, newly-hatched uterus will not lose in mating with a drone. Therefore, under these circumstances, one can only hope for success.
What is wintering of bees in the wild?
A free wintering is good because the first fly-around for bees starts a month earlier than for those who winters in cellars and omshaniks. Therefore, by the time families come out of rooms with the first sunny spring days, insects in free conditions already have up to four brood frames.
In case of free living throughout the entire cold period, special attention should be paid to the condition of the hives, since their walls have the ability to damp, which favors the growth of mold directly in the combs.
Therefore, it is advisable to wrap them with thick black paper since the fall, and cover them with dry foliage from above - this will help the winter home to keep warm and dry for as long as possible. You can still additionally insulate them with either industrial film or roofing tape.
Do not forget that in cold times the bees may not have enough ventilation, so you should listen to them and, if necessary, carefully add fresh air.
Winter under the snow
Another way to preserve the family in the cold season is to winter the bees in the wild under the snow. This method includes the above, but the hives are covered with snow, without any exceptions and bends. Snow breaks through in spring or during the thaw period, when crusts form on top. In addition, each hive must be wrapped with some kind of material before the cold, which can isolate heat fluxes.
This type of wintering is good because the bees are ready for the first flyby already with early spring melting, but it also has its drawbacks. For example, if the winter is snowless, then the hives are left without reliable protection, which worsens their condition. To do this, it is recommended to put non-thick wooden planks to the house, which act as additional protection against frost. In general, they can be left after the snow has fallen, and until spring comes, in this case, the woods play the role of additional protection of the bees from birds.
Wintering of bees in the wild in Siberia
It is known that in colder regions, for example, in Siberia, bee colonies are stronger, therefore, they can endure frosts outdoors. Therefore, often in such places, these insects winter in the wild.
As mentioned above, it is most important to protect the hives from drafts, since wintering of bees in the wild in Western Siberia is primarily a serious test for insects, because the winds in these places during the cold period are strong and very cold.
Therefore, it is extremely important to protect homes from damaging external factors, not only from weather conditions, but also from rodents and birds. Do not forget that the hives of southern insect breeds should be warmed more strongly than Central Russian ones, since they are less resistant to Siberian cold. Since snow in this region is more than enough for a successful wintering, it is recommended that they be thrown qualitatively from the very beginning of winter and no longer be disturbed.
Cold season in the Moscow region
In this region, a rather damp climate is observed in the cold season, despite a sufficient average amount of snow (about half a meter, sometimes more). Therefore, wintering of bees in the wild in the Moscow region should begin with high-quality preparation and warming of hives.
In order to prevent mold from forming inside due to the peculiarities of the local climate, it is necessary to artificially increase the space under the frame, due to which a special pillow is formed from the air, which adds dryness and heat to the winter dwelling.
In addition, to further maintain the heat of the family, it is desirable to place tightly together.
However, the undoubted advantage of the climate in the Moscow region is that here the temperature fluctuates in small amplitude during the day, therefore, there are no special differences, and the bees carry wintering freely in the wild.
Wintering in Bashkiria
Due to the rather mild climate in these places, wintering of bees in the wild in Bashkiria proceeds calmly. Moreover, the hives do not need special insulation, as, for example, in Siberia. And the climate here is less humid than in the Moscow region in the surrounding territories.
For the local temperate continental climate, it is enough to adhere to those tips that have been described above regarding the free stay of bees in the cold season.