WHAT HAPPENS IN THE HIVE IN SEPTEMBER ?

September: the hive gradually prepares for winter!

As summer draws to a close and the days grow shorter, an important change takes place inside the hive. After months of intense activity, bees enter a new phase of their cycle: preparing for winter.

Fewer flowers, slowing activity and the arrival of a new generation of bees… In September, the entire colony gets ready to face the colder months ahead.

Let's discover the secrets of this fascinating transition!

The queen slows down

During the warmer months, the queen can lay up to several thousand eggs a day to ensure a steady supply of worker bees and support the colony's growth.

But as autumn approaches, everything begins to change!

The days grow shorter, temperatures start to fall and floral resources gradually become less abundant.

The queen begins to lay fewer eggs, reducing the number of young bees the colony needs to raise.

This slowdown allows the colony to adapt its population and food requirements to the resources available.

Inside the hive, every change of season brings a new way of organising life!

Winter bees begin to emerge

This is one of the most remarkable features of this time of year: a new generation of bees is preparing to take over from the summer workers.

Because not all bees live for the same length of time!

Worker bees born during the foraging season generally have short lives, lasting only a few weeks. Their intense activity places considerable demands on their bodies.

Winter bees, however, are different.

Born in late summer and autumn, they develop greater body reserves and can live for several months, until spring returns.

Their mission is essential: to ensure the colony's survival throughout winter, before helping it resume its activity when the warmer days return.

A remarkable adaptation that allows the hive to survive the changing seasons!

The last flowers: precious resources

Although the main summer flowering season is coming to an end, the foragers' work is not quite over.

In September, some plants continue to provide nectar and pollen. These include ivy and, depending on the region, heather.

These final resources are particularly valuable.

Bees use them to top up the colony's food reserves, which are essential during the months when opportunities to leave the hive become more limited.

Every flower still in bloom can therefore play an important role in preparing for winter.

It's also a reminder of just how important plant diversity and flowering seasons are to the lives of pollinators.

A crucial time for beekeepers

While the bees are getting organised, beekeepers are also preparing for the season ahead.

After the final honey harvests, their attention turns to one key priority: ensuring that colonies have the best possible conditions to get through winter.

They assess the overall health of their colonies, check food reserves and make sure the hives are sturdy and protected against bad weather.

Depending on the situation, they may also need to strengthen weaker colonies, sometimes by combining them when appropriate.

The location of the hives is equally important: they need sufficient protection from wind and damp conditions.

All these precautions highlight the many aspects of a beekeeper's work and the essential role they play in caring for bees.

Did you know? Bees don't sleep through winter!

Contrary to what we might imagine, bees don't spend the entire winter sleeping.

When temperatures drop sufficiently, they gather together inside the hive to form a winter cluster.

Huddled closely together, they generate and retain the warmth needed to keep the colony alive.

Another remarkable example of their extraordinary ability to work together!

A precious balance to protect

September reminds us that even when activity appears to slow down, life inside the hive remains incredibly well organised.

From the emergence of winter bees to the final preparations of food reserves, every stage plays an important role in helping the colony get through the months ahead.

At BEE ZEN, we love sharing these fascinating insights into the world of bees and their importance in our environment.

Alongside Un Toit Pour Les Abeilles, we also support initiatives that help beekeepers and contribute to the protection of bee colonies.

Because the more we learn about bees, the better we understand why protecting them is so important.

Source and further reading: Life in the hive in September — Un Toit Pour Les Abeilles.