Why Bees Die In Winter
It is not unusual for me to find some dead bees in Winter near my beehive entrance. But, this does not mean that I have an impending disaster. An absence of bees buzzing around the garden may lead people to think – do all bees die in Winter? The answer is a bit complex. Some bee species do die off when cold arrives, others (like honey bees) are able to survive as a group. In this guide, I share some tips on what to expect and when to be concerned.
The months of cold temperatures are a challenge for all cold-blooded insects – including bees. Honey bees survive Winter as a family in a unique way. But, each species has its own method of ensuring the family line continues into Spring.
Do All Bees Die in Winter?
Bees belong to the order Hymenoptra – a diverse group of insects that number over 20,000 species. Their annual life cycle, diets and even types of bee nests all fit into the plan for their specific species.
Here are a few examples:
Bumblebees (Bombus spp.) – Bumble bees and honey bees have very different lives. The Bumble colony does not survive the cold months as a family. When the first freeze comes – the field workers and males die.
Only the mated queens live until Spring hibernating under bark, leaves or garden debris awaiting the return of Spring to begin a new nest and family.
Mason Bees (Osmia spp.) – Mason bees are solitary insects that nest alone in cavities such as mud tunnels, empty stems etc. Many of them in Winter. However, they leave behind a nest provisioned with developing young to become the next generation of the family.
Carpenter Bees (Xylocopa spp.)– Carpenter bees are good pollinators but homeowners dislike them because they tunnel into wood (the side of your house, deck etc.)
Adult carpenter bees die when Winter arrives. But, they leave behind developing pupae in protected wooden tunnels. These bees will emerge as adults in the spring.
Honey Bees in Winter
In general, a beehive should not die during Winter. A healthy colony of honey bees with ample food stores should live from one season to the next.
Clustered inside the hive on cold days, they live off honey stores. Yet, even within a healthy colony, not every bee will live from October to April. Some bees will die every day.
What Month Do Bees Die Off?
A lack of numerous bugs and insects during the cold months is noticeable (maybe you enjoy it). But, they don’t disappear on a certain day – it is a gradual process.
In the US, most Summer insects are gone by late October into November – certainly after a few killing frosts.
For honey bees, house bees throw the dead bodies out of the hive on warm days. This can be alarming to a novice beginning beekeeper but is not usually cause for concern. It could just be an example of good housekeeping.
When to Be Concerned About Bee Deaths
In recent years, the percentage of honey bee colonies that die over Winter has grown. Our colonies are struggling to deal environmental issues, as well as, new bee pests and disease.
Even in healthy colonies, some bees die every day- honey bees don’t live very long. But, you might be concerned about dead bees in front of a hive if you notice these symptoms:
- large piles of dead bees in front of hive
- dead bees inside the hive clustered together
- a bad smell from the hive
- no sound or movement inside the hive
- signs of robbers or predator entering the hive
FAQs
Many of the solitary bee species do enter a state of hibernation. However, honey bees do not hibernate – they cluster inside the hive to keep warm surviving on stored honey.
While winter is a challenging time for all cold-blooded insects, the solitary bees are most affected by severe cold.
There are several ways you can help bees survive Winter. Provide housing for solitary bees – leave some garden debris, don’t rake all the leaves – someone may be hibernating in there. Plant flowers that provide important late season pollen and nectar – this helps bees to be healthy and well fed before cold arrives.
Final Thoughts
There are many diverse strategies used by bees to cope with the months of cold temperatures. Some bees die in Winter but leave behind mated queens or developing young that will come out in Spring to start anew. Others, overwinter as large families, surviving on the rewards of their work during the warm season. Though they are different – all contribute to the diversity of the ecosystem.