HEATWAVES : A MAJOR CHALLENGE FOR BEES

When temperatures rise, bees have to adapt too! Although heat is a natural part of their environment, heatwaves and prolonged periods of drought pose a real challenge for these little workers and the beekeepers who look after them.

How does a colony cope with extreme heat? And what are the consequences for its activity and survival? Let's take a closer look inside a hive in the height of summer.

A hive that knows how to regulate its temperature

Inside the hive, bees work together to maintain suitable conditions for the colony to thrive, particularly for the development of young bees.

When temperatures become too high, some worker bees temporarily leave their usual tasks to focus on an essential mission: cooling the hive.

Some head out to collect water, while others fan their wings rapidly to ventilate the hive. As the water evaporates, it helps lower the temperature.

A remarkable example of how bees work together, with each one playing a part in maintaining the balance of the colony!

When heat disrupts foraging

But this collective effort comes at a cost: the time and energy spent cooling the hive can no longer be used to collect nectar and pollen.

And the challenges don't stop there.

Outside, extreme heat and water shortages also put pressure on vegetation. Some flowers bloom earlier than expected, while others finish flowering prematurely.

As a result, flowers may produce less nectar, and food resources become less reliable.

This directly affects foraging activity, the colony's food reserves and, in some cases, honey production.

Beekeepers on the front line

Faced with these new challenges, beekeeping practices are also evolving.

As our partner Un Toit Pour Les Abeilles explains, beekeepers are adapting their methods to provide the best possible support for their colonies during periods of extreme heat.

This may involve protecting the vegetation surrounding the hives, moving them to less exposed locations or adjusting working hours to avoid the hottest parts of the day.

Some also choose to leave more honey for the bees, ensuring they have sufficient reserves when natural food sources become scarce.

These decisions may go unnoticed, but they are essential to protecting the health and balance of bee colonies.

Understanding bees better to protect them

Heatwaves remind us just how dependent bees are on their environment and the delicate balance of ecosystems.

They also highlight the importance of beekeepers, whose role goes far beyond harvesting honey: monitoring, protecting and supporting their colonies are all essential parts of their work.

At BEE ZEN, bees are not only at the heart of our recipe, but also at the heart of our commitment.

That's why, alongside Un Toit Pour Les Abeilles, we support bee sponsorship initiatives that help beekeepers care for and protect their colonies.

Because the more we understand the world of bees, the more we realise how important it is to protect it.

Source and further reading : Comment la canicule transforme le travail des apiculteurs et la vie des abeilles — Un Toit Pour Les Abeilles.