Beehive Insulation
The cold months of Winter are a challenging time for honey bee colonies. Beekeepers in harsh climate find themselves preparing to insulate their beehives before bitter cold arrives. A properly insulated modern hive can improve the chances of colony survival over Winter. But, do all beekeepers need to add beehive insulation? This guide aims to you understand why hive insulation is used and the basics of how to do a proper job.
In my region, (upstate South Carolina) hive insulation is not really necessary. My general feeling is that done properly it does no harm and may be a useful procedure for winterizing your beehives – even if you don’t live in a harsh climate. Is it a requirement for your hives? No.
Why Insulate Beehives for Winter?
There are several reasons that applying a bit of insulation to your hives can help your bees. Modern Langstroth hives are made to specific dimensions and those boards are not very thick.
I am sure the R value (insulation talk) of those pine boards is not even close to that of the thick walls of a hollow tree.
Of course, even in our modern hives – the bees do some home insulation of their own. They collect plant resins and covert it into bee propolis. Propolis is used to seal cracks and keep out cold wind.
Temperature Regulation
Honey bees survive winter by consuming stored honey and generating heat. They do not heat the entire inside area of the hive – only the brood nest region. A colony with brood strives to maintain a temperature of 90-95°F (32-35°C).
Better insulation helps regulate and steady the internal hive temperature by protecting it from bitter cold or wild temperature swings that happen outside.
Energy Conservation
A stable internal hive temperature allows the colony to conserve energy – AKA stored food. I always worry about my bees running out of honey before the end of Winter.
More bee colonies die in winter due to starvation rather than cold alone. If they need to use less stored food to survive – that ups their chances of success.
Minimize Moisture
Moisture can be a good thing. But, too much moisture inside the Winter beehive is a killer. Stable hive temperatures cut down on condensation that can form inside the hive and rain down on the clustered bees.
Promotes Early Brood Rearing
Personally, I have found that properly insulated hives tend to have earlier brood rearing than those that are not wrapped. Of course, all the other requirements for rearing bee brood have to be there are well.
Perhaps, the wrapped hives are not as much affected by frequent late season cold snaps. These can kill young brood in smaller colonies.
Key Considerations Before Wrapping Your Beehive
Many of you will live in marginal climates where Winter is not especially hard or long. How do you decide whether of not to bother with hive insulation? Here are a few factors to consider:
- assessing your climate
- hive strength and health
- ventilation needs
Climate
Consider your local climate and what a “normal” Winter means to your area. For these local aspects of beekeeping – always check with a local beekeeping association. What do most of the “successful” beekeepers in your area do?
Of course, if you live in the northern most states of the United States – chances are you are more likely to need wrapped hives. Still, climate is not the only consideration.
Colony Strength & Health
The health and size of your colonies also plays a major role in whether or not you need to insulate the beehive. In general, larger populations are better able to sustain themselves over the cold months.
Likewise, small bee clusters find it more difficult to produce enough heat to survive severe weather. Smaller colonies may benefit just enough from some extra warmth to live rather than die.
Needless to say, colony health plays a role regardless of the number of bees in the hive. A marginal sized colony that is healthy stands a better chance than a large bee family that is plagued by disease and pests.
Ventilation Needs
As you consider your plans, you must pay close attention to beehive ventilation. It sounds a bit silly to say “wrap them up tight to keep them warm” and at the same time to say “make sure they can breathe” – but this is exactly what we must do.
Honey bees generate moisture through their respiration and the evaporation of honey. Excessive moisture results in damp conditions that promotes disease.
When warm air inside the hive meets the cold surfaces of a poorly insulated hive, condensation can form. Water droplets may drip down on the bees. Cold, wet bees are dead, wet bees.
Finding a balance of air flow is important for any hive but especially the wrapped beehive over Winter. We want warm moist air to escape without letting in too much cold dry air.
Types of Beehive Insulation
Beekeepers use many different types of materials to insulate their hives. Here are a few to consider:
- insulation Wraps
- foam Boards
- hive cozies
- natural insulation materials
Hive Wraps
Insulation wraps come in different materials. They are often dark in color (to warm in the sun) and wrap completely around the hive before attaching with grips or tape.
Materials inside the wrap add to the R value of the hive wall. I have even known beekeepers who wrapped their hives in black roofing paper!
These are relatively inexpensive and last for several years. It is important to install wraps in a way that still allows some air flow. Don’t block the hive entrance.
Foam Boards
Foam boards are used for many crafting projects and they make decent hive insulation as well. Typically made of polystyrene or polyurethane, they can be cut to fit around the hive. Sturdy tape is used to hold them in place.
The beauty of foam boards is that is it easy to make a custom fit that works with your hive configuration and they are not very expensive.
Hive Cozies
Hive cozies are covers that are specially designed to fit beehives. Similar to insulation wraps, they go around the hive and attach with Velcro or similar. Made of a plastic material or even fabric, cozies contain insulating materials like wool, polyester, or foam.
These are the types of hive wraps that I use on my hives when needed. The cost is rather dear but mine have lasted for several years already and are still going strong.
Natural Materials
You don’t have to make or buy special wraps for your hive. Natural materials such as straw, wood shavings, and hay can be used to insulate hives.
They are low cost and biodegradable. The only concern is that natural materials can sometimes harbor insects, rodents and other pests looking for a warm spot. Definitely use a mouse guard on hives that are insulated with natural materials.
How to Properly Wrap a Beehive
Regardless of the method you choose, install your hive insulation around the time of the first hard freeze in your area.
(I delay and plan my wraps on in late November because I know the temperatures will bounce up and down a lot. That’s where the “know your local conditions” info comes in handy)
1. Place the insulation on your hive and secure it in some way that will stand up to the wet, windy weather conditions of Winter. This may be sturdy tape, Velcro and even metal staples.
2. Check the hive entrance to ensure that it is not blocked. Bees will want to leave the hive on nice days. Also, fresh air needs to be able to enter the hive.
3. Check your ventilation needs. Perhaps you will use a quilt box on top of the hive to absorb excess moisture. In moderate climates, beekeepers put a couple of popsicle or craft sticks under the outer lid to create air flow.
4. You can also add a shim (ring of wood similar to a super box but only 1” – 2” tall – with an entrance. This can be placed near the top of the hive to allow moist air to leave the hive. This is optional.
Expert Tips
- avoid “sealing the hive” there must be some air flow
- monitor hive conditions during Winter months – is moisture accumulating on the inside of the top cover? Not enough ventilation.
- make sure bees are able to come and go from the hive
- once the weather warms – get those wraps off
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure.
If you decide to purchase bee wraps, make sure you select the size that fits your beehive. Also, look for reviews before buying.
FAQs
No. It is not always necessary to provide extra insulation to your beehives. Healthy, strong, properly prepared colonies can survive even cold Winter conditions.
You can use a variety of materials such as insulation wraps, foam boards, hive cozies, straw, and other natural insulating materials to keep your beehive warm in winter.
In milder climates, beehive insulation may not be necessary. However, providing some form of protection against occasional cold snaps can still benefit the colony.
Check for drafts and ensure that there are no large gaps where cold air can enter. Additionally, monitor the internal hive temperature and bee activity during winter to ensure the insulation is effective.
Proper insulation, along with adequate ventilation, can help manage condensation inside the hive. It’s important to balance insulation and ventilation to prevent moisture buildup.
The best time to wrap your beehive is in late fall, before the first major frost, but after the bees have had time to prepare for winter by reducing their activity and clustering.
Final Thoughts
In South Carolina, I do not always use beehive insulation. But, I have found that it can help small colonies survive and cause some to brood up sooner in early Spring. If you live in a warm location, hive insulation is likely not a need and if done improperly can cause more problems than it fixes. Evaluate your location, the needs of your bees and colony status to make a good decision for your apiary.