EastBoro September Hive Update

Oct 6

From Beekeeper James

The honeybees on the rooftop of 8251 Greensboro Drive were buzzing with activity as summer turned to fall in September. Despite the shorter days and cooler temperatures, the bees continued to pollinate flowering plants in Tysons, and the cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes on the rooftop garden a few hundred feet away. Your queen has also continued to lay an impressive amount of eggs. When these bees reach maturity, they will have the important task of keeping the colony alive in the winter by clustering into a ball around the queen. The bees vibrate their flight muscles, which generates heat. They are able to keep this cluster at a roasting 93-95°F! Besides the queen who can live for several years, these winter bees that make it through to the spring will be the oldest bees in the colony.

September is a critical time for management of the hive. The colony needs to have enough honey stores and a healthy queen to be able to get them through the tough fall and winter periods when there are little to no resources in the environment. Luckily, your hive’s honey stores are plentiful and your queen is healthy and productive!