Depleting Food Sources for Bees

The most difficult time for bees is the autumn and winter months, when things begin to go dormant. Responsible gardeners do their part to keep things available for the bees, still trying to collect and store for any freezing that may come, but hives struggle during these times. The best beekeepers may supplement bees with a sugary substance to help them keep their energy up during months when they can’t be out foraging naturally. Bees can’t fly in the rain or wind, and snow puts a blanket over everything they need. Every year, social bees hunker down and hope they have stored enough to make it through the winter. Since bees regulate temperature in their hive by flapping their wings and rotating spots, they are still burning energy that requires food. Sadly, hives may starve or face such stress that they can’t survive. This is the reality many beekeepers face.

Baby Brood Keep Coming

As bees stay inside the hive during the months when they can’t forage and sources of food are inconsistent, they struggle to feed the brood and keep the queen well fed. Although brooding will slow down during winter, some hives may find they don’t have enough to go around. The queen continues to lay brood, and those baby bees need to receive a steady source of nutrients to stay alive. Stalled nectar sources can be the demise of an entire colony. A knowledgeable beekeeper will monitor their hives and be able to determine if they want to offer a supplemental source to help bees get through an especially tough winter.

The goal is always to try to watch over hives, protect them, and provide for them without interrupting their natural ability to adapt. Some beekeepers may intervene too much, weakening the hive's ability to survive.

Increased Aggression

As food sources are low and scarcity begins to impact the hive, bees may become more aggressive. Many beekeepers report that their bees get more aggressive if they check the hive. On another note, wasps may also become more aggressive as food sources are less available. Being mindful of resting hives and nests is something everyone should be aware of during colder months. Even if hives or bees appear less active, they are still alive and can react when they feel threatened. Wasps, on the other hand, don’t need a reason to be aggressive, and some species are known to sting for no apparent reason.

Stability Inside the Hive

Bees have incredible skills when regulating the temperature inside the hive. Organically, bees know the exact temperatures to keep the brood alive and well. Although bees can keep things cool when it is hot out and warm when it is freezing, hives that are not sealed correctly can become moist and make it nearly impossible for bees to counter the effects of a wet hive. Bees cluster together, and some bees have been witnessed clustering around threats to their hive and heating the predator to the point of death. This has been most observed and documented when attacking a wasp or hornet trying to get inside and access their delicious honey and baby brood. To keep hives healthy, as sources deplete outside the hive and foraging halts due to weather, adding a source to help bees is something many beekeepers choose to do during the colder months.

Urban Development and Habitat Loss

Thinking about food depletion for bees and other pollinators must consider the apparent impact of development and habitat loss on bees. As humans take up more space, bees have less. Period. It is not complicated, and people should recognize that we need to do what we can to counter the adverse effects on other living things. Beekeepers have continually come to the rescue for displaced bees and bees needing to find new homes. If bees end up inside someone's house, they try to find a safe space, and as we take away options, it is more likely they can end up somewhere we don't want them. If bees have made a home becomes a concern, professional bee removal companies should be used to ensure the hives are removed entirely and that bees are removed and rehomed safely and humanely. There is no reason to kill bees to get rid of them.