Heard the other day from a guy I know who lives in rural Iowa and keeps bees. After the storm came through and the temperature dropped to around zero, the thermometer in the hive still read 88 degrees. It appears the bees know how to keep warm!
Heard the other day from a guy I know who lives in rural Iowa and keeps bees. After the storm came through and the temperature dropped to around zero, the thermometer in the hive still read 88 degrees. It appears the bees know how to keep warm!
Yeah, it works–to a point. In parts north, it can get so cold for so long that the cluster of bees can’t move to new parts of the comb to get honey, and the hive will freeze. We used to lose about 30% of hives overwintering them–even with a black cover that help seal up cracks and provide some solar heating.
Actually, I believe the warmer interiors have something to do with the wax walls (though I realize there is a point even that doesn’t help). I was just reading about a European discovery (I think it was) of wax beads inside a wall panel. Apparently as it warms up, they melt a little, absorbing the excess heat keeping the room at about 73 F. When it gets cold, they resolidify, releasing their stored heat energy, keeping the room warmer. Now if only they’d get to the states and be actually affordable….
twj0729 over 13 years ago
Then, of course, there’ll be more fat, little snorin’ bees for spider in the spring!
Xane_T over 13 years ago
Poor Sterling. I guess there was no way to save the bees and the horse.
Cmlbx over 13 years ago
Sterling didn’t get hurt, that’s a nice soft snowbank.
Justin Thompson creator over 13 years ago
Sterling hurt? Sterling damaged or disabled? Sterling abused and maimed? Oh, Heavens NO! Who do you think I am, Michael Vick??????
bmonk over 13 years ago
“No animals, even cartoon ones, were injured in the production of this comic strip.”
Kirokithikis over 13 years ago
And Dudley’s still trying to kick the beehive :P
puddleglum1066 over 13 years ago
Heard the other day from a guy I know who lives in rural Iowa and keeps bees. After the storm came through and the temperature dropped to around zero, the thermometer in the hive still read 88 degrees. It appears the bees know how to keep warm!
mhs1075 over 13 years ago
Yeah, about that 88 degree beehive- they’re not hibernating, they’re discussing politics!
bmonk over 13 years ago
puddleglum1066 said, about 4 readings ago
Heard the other day from a guy I know who lives in rural Iowa and keeps bees. After the storm came through and the temperature dropped to around zero, the thermometer in the hive still read 88 degrees. It appears the bees know how to keep warm!
Yeah, it works–to a point. In parts north, it can get so cold for so long that the cluster of bees can’t move to new parts of the comb to get honey, and the hive will freeze. We used to lose about 30% of hives overwintering them–even with a black cover that help seal up cracks and provide some solar heating.
LadyThornewood over 13 years ago
Actually, I believe the warmer interiors have something to do with the wax walls (though I realize there is a point even that doesn’t help). I was just reading about a European discovery (I think it was) of wax beads inside a wall panel. Apparently as it warms up, they melt a little, absorbing the excess heat keeping the room at about 73 F. When it gets cold, they resolidify, releasing their stored heat energy, keeping the room warmer. Now if only they’d get to the states and be actually affordable….
Trisha_Evenstar over 13 years ago
MERRY CHRISTMAS!