Text Transcript with Description of Visuals
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| [Music] Welcome to video four of ABEJAS. | ABEJAS Logo in front of beekeeper puffing smoke into hives and forklift stacking more hives on top Title: Module 1.4 Preparing Honey Bees for Winter |
| Honey bee overwintering behavior is a complex adaptation that combines physiological changes, social behaviors, and strategic use of resources to ensure the survival of a colony throughout the winter season. In this video, we will discuss how honey bees prepare for winter and how you can help them have a better chance of overwintering successfully. | Beekeeper in an apiary talking to camera Beekeeper scraping excess comb off top of frames inside hive, bees flying in background Beekeeper puffing smoke onto bees inside a hive |
| [Music] | ABEJAS Logo with red background. Text on screen: Physiological changes between summer and winter honey bees |
| The physiological changes between summer honey bees, which are active during the warmer months, and winter honey bees, which need to live through colder conditions, are crucial for colony survival. | Honey bees flying into hive entrance |
| As you saw in the training video about the lifecycle of a honey bee, summer worker bees live for about 4 to 8 weeks. In contrast, winter honey bees have a longer lifespan of several months. | Beekeeper in an apiary talking to camera Graphic showing difference between winter bees and summer bees; they look the same but have different physiological traits |
| This extended lifespan helps them survive until the population increases in the spring. | Honey bees crawling at hive entrance |
| Winter worker bees have a higher fat content, a lower metabolic rate, and are less active compared to summer worker bees. These changes help bees conserve energy during periods of reduced foraging activity in cold temperatures. The transition from summer to winter bees involves changes in hormone levels that influence development, behavior, and longevity. These changes help the bees adapt to different food availability and environmental conditions. | White truck parked behind many colonies with bees flying in apiary [Credited footage: Project Apis m] Bee flying on flower Beekeeper walking by colonies in apiary Hives being taken off truck with forklift |
| [Music] | ABEJAS Logo with red background. Text on screen: Preparing honey bees for overwintering |
| Successfully overwintering requires four basic things: plenty of healthy bees, a strong queen, plenty of stored food, and adequate ventilation. | Beekeeper in an apiary talking to camera Bulleted list appears and speaker reads off topics listed |
| Honey bee colonies survive winter by clustering together inside of the hive and thermoregulating. | Beekeeper inspecting colony [Credited footage: Project Apis m] |
| The cluster is formed around the queen and is composed of worker bees. The bees on the outer layer of the cluster generate heat by vibrating their flight muscles and maintaining a temperature of around 93 to 95 Fahrenheit within the cluster. | Beekeeper in an apiary talking to camera Graphic showing ideal cluster size |
| The size of the cluster in the late fall can help a beekeeper make inferences on the likelihood of winter survival. | Beekeeper working in colonies. Text on screen: These bees are being prepared for overwintering [Credited footage: Project Apis m] |
| Ideally, the cluster of bees would span across the box. | Beekeeper holding open hive to show bees crawling across 10 frames. Text on screen: This honey bee colony is a good size as it enters the winter season |
| If the cluster is small, you can supplement the colony by combining two weaker colonies together. | Beekeeper moving frames from one colony into another colony |
| Before winter beekeepers should ensure the queen is healthy and laying eggs properly. | Close up of eggs inside hexagonal cells on frame |
| A strong and vigorous queen will help the colony maintain population levels necessary for winter survival. | Queen crawling on frame with many bees nearby. Text on screen: A strong queen can help a colony overwinter successfully |
| Replacing a queen in late fall can be challenging. It is not recommended unless necessary. | Beekeeper holding a cage with a queen inside then placing the cage down next to two other queen cages. Text on screen: It is not recommended to replace a queen in the late fall |
| If requeening is necessary in the late fall due to issues such as the failing queen or defensive behaviors, you could combine the weaker colony with a stronger one. Make sure honey bees have an adequate amount of stored food to survive the winter. Honey bees focus on conserving their resources in the fall and winter. | Beekeeper inspecting frame in colony then bees crawling on frame next to pollen and nectar stores. Text on screen: Ensure bees have enough food stored for winter |
| In cold climates, there will be no brood production during parts of winter, and therefore the bees will consume little to no protein. | Beekeeper holding frame full of honey Text on screen: A nice frame of honey |
| Honey is their primary source of energy during winter. | Two bees drinking honey from a capped honey cell. Text on screen: Honey bees consuming honey in the hive |
| Adequate ventilation is crucial to prevent moisture buildup inside of the hive, which can lead to fungal diseases or suffocation. | Beekeeper in an apiary talking to camera |
| Ensure the hive entrance is clear. | Honey bees crawling at hive entrance |
| Your operation will likely specify strategies for how to adequately ventilate hives in your region. | Three people standing in storage facility with large vents and red lighting, then many hives in vertical stacks. Text on screen: These indoor overwintering facilities have different types of ventilation systems [Credited footage: Project Apis m] |
| Additionally, it is critical to ensure the hive is level to reduce moisture accumulation that can occur if the hive is tilted back. | Person driving forklift inside storage facility with red lighting [Credited footage: Project Apis m] |
| If wintering outside in windy areas, it might be necessary to build structures or secure hives with ratchet straps to prevent them from blowing over or lids blowing off. | Drone footage of six white buildings. Text on screen: Many beekeepers use indoor storage sheds of varying types for overwintering honey bees [Credited footage: Project Apis m] |
| [Music] | ABEJAS Logo with red background. Text on screen: Pest and disease management for winter survival |
| We will teach you more about pests and pathogens in an upcoming module, but management of pests and diseases is extremely important in helping bees survive the winter. | Beekeeper in an apiary talking to camera |
| Varroa destructor is one of the most damaging pests to honey bees. These mites can weaken colonies and reduce their ability to make it through winter. | Close up of bee with a mite on top of abdomen, red circle appears around mite Bee crawling on frame with shriveled wings, red circle appears around malformed bee |
| Treatments such as oxalic acid, formic acid, amitraz, thymol, or other approved miticides should be applied according to the recommended schedules and thresholds to reduce mite levels before winter. | Beekeeper reading off paper then placing a plastic strip between hive frames. Text on screen: Always read and follow the label instructions when applying miticides |
| Check for signs of common honey bee diseases such as Nosema, American foulbrood, chalk brood, and European foulbrood. | Beekeeper inspecting a frame of bees |
| If diagnosed, implement appropriate treatments or management strategies before winter. | Frame containing many open hexagonal cells and a few bees crawling on frame. Text on screen: This colony is severely damaged from Varroa mites and related diseases. It will not survive the winter. |
| Now that you know how honey bees prepare for winter and how you can help them prepare, you can implement some of these strategies to increase overwintering success. | Beekeeper in an apiary talking to camera ABEJAS logo, list of two upcoming videos, and @wsubeeprogram YouTube Logo appears |
| [Music] | Beekeeper stacking hives with forklift Overlay of WSU Bee Program, Washington State University, Wonderstone Films, United States Department of Agriculture, Project Apis m, Miller Honey Farms, and University of Minnesota Extension logos appear Scrolling list of people involved in development of videos appears |
| If you’ve enjoyed this video, please subscribe to the channel and leave us a comment below to let us know what additional topics you would like us to cover in future videos. | A beekeeper closing a clapperboard that says “WSU ABEJAS English” Beekeeper in an apiary talking to camera |