Bees are a very important pollinator. They help produce a lot of food for us.
However, they are also harmed by the exploitation of honey for human use. This entails the killing of a large number of bees.
In the winter, bees have to survive on very limited food supplies. Often they will not be able to find any flowers blooming.
Why do beekeepers kill their bees?
In the wild, bees gather nectar and pollen from a wide range of flowering plants to create honey. They also deposit pollen grains onto the flowers of fruit trees so that the tree will produce more fruit.
Bees pollinate one-third of the fruits, nuts and vegetables that Americans eat. If bees weren’t around to do their job, America could be facing a food shortage.
Pesticides and disease-bearing parasites are a common cause of CCD, but scientists have identified an even bigger culprit: neonicotinoids. The chemical’s use has led to a steep drop off in honey production.
It’s hard to determine whether the current decline is part of a normal trend or if it is due to more than one factor. But for beekeepers, who rely on the pollination services of their colonies, this is a worrying sign.
Do beekeepers kill their bees in winter?
Bees work hard all year long, collecting nectar, turning it into honey and storing it for use in winter. As soon as the weather gets colder, bees begin to slow down and work less.
They spend more time inside their hive, consuming stored honey and keeping the brood warm. They may even hibernate if they’re too cold to fly.
During the coldest part of winter, bees will also go on “cleaning flights” to keep the colony clean, and to relieve themselves. This can be dangerous if the temperature is low enough to make the bees paralyzed, so beekeepers should close up their hives as soon as the weather starts getting colder.
To help bees survive the winter, beekeepers should prepare a syrup that will be thicker than in the spring. This will make it easier for the bees to store, and it will also help the colony get through the winter.
Do beekeepers kill their bees in the spring?
While the majority of beekeepers in the world kill their colonies in the fall, some do it in the spring. Typically, this is done to harvest the honey and store the equipment for the next year.
The most common way that beekeepers kill their bees in the spring is to spray the hive with pesticides. They also remove the hive and use a vacuum cleaner hose to pull down any bees trapped inside.
If you’re not comfortable doing this yourself, you can always hire a professional. Just be sure to wear the proper safety gear and follow all safety precautions.
Bees often swarm during the springtime because there is ample nectar for them to feed on. This is why it’s important to remove any swarms before they start building their nests in your hives. This can also help you save any weakened bees and avoid having to re-queen the colony later in the season.
Do beekeepers kill their bees in the summer?
Bees are active all summer long, going out to flowers and gathering nectar to bring back to the hive. They also create a layer of honeycomb that traps the heat from the sun in an insulating layer.
When the temperatures drop, bees will tighten their cluster. This conserves their energy to heat the hive.
They also use their busy wing muscles to generate warmth for the hive. Then, they’ll rest.
Some worker bees may visit a cell of capped honey to top off their fuel tank. This allows them to continue to collect nectar during the winter.
Many beekeepers will also split up their colonies in the fall to make sure that they will have enough food for the coming year. This way, they don’t lose any bees over the winter and can keep their hives healthy through spring and summer.
