The "situation report" should only refer to our research project with the bees. In addition, there are many other issues that concern and worry us all. But they don't currently influence our work.
However, the weather is very different. After - felt - spring had already arrived in early/mid-February, we observed a very active flight of bees during this time. At the end of the month we wanted to carry out a first inspection of the bee colonies. However, the weather threw a spanner in the works for us. In the last few days we have seen a significant cold snap with night frosts and low single-digit temperatures during the day. This morning we were surprised by a white snowy landscape.
In these conditions, there is no point in checking. The low temperatures would put a heavy strain on the bees and would require a lot of energy to raise the temperature in the hive again. The average temperature there is always between 32° and 36°, even with these outside temperatures or frost. Only at this temperature is it possible to maintain bee health and take care of the brood.
This is of course possible without “central heating”. Between the combs, especially in the brood chamber, the bees leave quite a lot of empty combs. The so-called "heater bees" sit in these, which generate heat through the movement of their muscles, which is distributed in the beehive. These bees get their energy from the honey in the hive. Since they remain almost motionless in the empty combs, they are supplied with honey by so-called "tanker bees". Altogether a complex, fascinating process that shows that the bees all live in their own organism (cosmos).
We don't want to disrupt this process with unnecessary checks and are postponing them to around mid-March. The observation during the flight days in February makes us look forward to the stick control positively.
In the meantime, warm regards and be(e) good,
yours
Klaus Heinzel