Winterizing bee hives how to#
Winterizing bee hives series#

But I've found the Warre quilt cut to fit a Langroth hive to be even more successful than foam insulation, as it absorbs moisture and practically eliminates condensation. Top insulation to reduce condensation is a good idea. Without that energy, they can't shiver to heat the cluster. The honey is what really keeps them warm. According to Fell, wrapping the hives in black roofing paper is a better solution because that absorbs heat from the sun, increasing the ambient temp near the bees, allowing them to break cluster more often and reach food stores farther away. It may also block the sun from heating the air around the cluster. The colony heats only the cluster, not the hive, so insulating the hive doesn't keep them warmer. Richard Fell, and he says that insulating the hive itself is not particularly useful and may make it harder for the cluster to benefit from sunny winter days. We have a well-respected bee researcher in my area, Dr. Keep in mind the pieces do not have to be perfect. Once you make several cuts down through the material, you can snap it off, kinda like cutting drywall. Best to cut this on a work table or somewhere you don't mind getting knife marks. Beekeepers across the country have been forced to face the new. Keep somewhere near the forefront of your mind during September and October the need to take action against hive pests.

Winterizing bee hives how to#

Providing ample food in your upper deep is the basis of how to keep bees alive in winter. You can also use a hand saw with a straight edge. In essence, get your strongest frames into both of your winterized deeps.

Winterizing bee hives series#

Use a piece of metal or wood as a straight edge, and make series of cuts down through the polystyrene. I cut it with a retractable box knife with the blade pushed all the way out. I do live in a climate with a LOT of humidity in winter- we sort of live in a cloud. Millions of years of evolution, i think theyve got a few things worked out. Bees want to leave the outer combs empty, with central clusters. One 24' x 96' piece will wrap a hive with some leftover. Langstroth hive manegment manipulate their bees to get maximum coverage and honey out of the hive. Its not the cheapest stuff, but it will last a long time, just don't beat it up. Its usually used for insulating walls and basements. I use the 2' thick polystyrene you can buy at the lumber store. Before any winterizing, treat the bees for varroa mites. The second and third parts of winterizing the beehive is to use an insulated inner cover and add a backup source of food, we use the dry sugar method. Insulating the beehive is the first part of winter prep.

It makes winterizing beehives easier, and the honeybees make it through winter. This works well because the winter bees begin to emerge in September and October. Its easy to put on, and I can re-use it every year. Generally, it is good to have mite treatments finished before the end of August. After trying several kinds, this beehive winter wrap works best for me.