Mathieu DOMECQ
Editor-in-chief of the API of the Month and Blog
A very happy end of the year to you and your bees from the entire API team! A new season is being prepared, but always the same objective for us: to accompany you through our articles and offer you the best food for your bees.
In December and January, the beekeeper’s main mission is to monitor the food stock while intervening as little as possible to respect the peace and quiet of the bees.
This month, we’ll be looking at the ability of bees to overwinter. We will discuss their technique to fight against the cold and analyse the
critical situations for them.
Tasks of the month
In December and January, bees hibernate. They remain clustered together in the hive to keep the queen warm. For beekeepers, this is also a quiet period during which they monitor their colonies’ food stocks. Here is an overview of the main tasks to be carried out during this month:
Check the consumption of candy: You may have placed Apifonda candy in your hive last month. Check to see if there is any left, and if not, replace it to prevent starvation. Under no circumstances should you open the hive completely or handle the frames, as you could break up the cluster and let in the cold.
Discreet monitoring: with wind or snow, make sure that the hives have not fallen over and that the entrances are not blocked (by leaves or snow).
Maintain your equipment: now is the time to disinfect everything, wash your suit, tidy up your workshop, or melt down wax caps… Also think about the next season, such as new locations to plan for and your goals (divisions, breeding)…
This month’s honey plants
Hazel (pollen), snowdrop (nectar and pollen), winter jasmine (nectar), winter heather (nectar).
