View Full Version : Flying in the 40's
applebwoi
10-22-2006, 12:36 AM
Today it was very windy and the temp never got above 47 F, but once the sun came out my bees were flying. Not as much as on warmer days but still quite a bit of activity. This is my first year so I have nothing to compare to, but I was surprised because I thought they normally didn't go out of the hive when it got below 50 or so. Were they foraging or were these more likely cleansing flights? I didn't see any pollen like yesterday when it was in the 70's but I didn't stay out and watch them as long either. How cold does it have to get before the bees stay put?
tecumseh
10-22-2006, 04:10 AM
pollen is stilll coming in at this location. for the first time in several years we have actually had a bit of a fall flow.
now I have never really documented the temperature which honeybees will quite flying and I would suspect that it might vary slightly with strain (race). If I had to guess I would say about 40 sounds about right, but that is only a quess.
sierrabees
10-22-2006, 06:33 AM
A few years ago I wintered three hives in my barn where I was able to look at them frequently. I would see them taking short clensing flights when the temp was in the low forties as soon as the sun hit the hives. I think they respond more to the temp on the landing board than to the outside air. I also have noticed that my hives that face southeast or south build up faster in the Spring than the ones that have the morning sun on their back.
applebwoi
10-22-2006, 09:31 AM
tecumseh I've read a lot on this forum about spring or fall flows. Exactly how do you know when a flow is going on? Until yesterday when the temps dropped, the bees were bringing in a lot of pollen. Does that indicate a flow?
Michael Bush
10-22-2006, 12:18 PM
You can have pollen for some time after the frost has killed the plants. Pollen is pollen and nectar is nectar. Not all plants producing pollen or still having pollen are producing nectar. Shiny cells full of nectar would be an indication of a flow. A lack of the same would be an idication of a dearth.
I've noticed that my bees will fly any time the temp is above 50 degrees F, even between rains or during a light rain, as long as the sun peaks out occassionally. During Winter itself I've seen them do cleansing flights after a long cold snap, as soon as the temp gets above freezing, we're talkin 33 degrees F.
applebwoi
10-22-2006, 01:47 PM
Wow, 33F I bet that chills their little bee bottoms :D
Michael Bush
10-22-2006, 04:12 PM
A few of mine were flying this morning at 42 F. But they didn't really start flying much until it hit 49 F.
tecumseh
10-23-2006, 06:14 AM
applebwoi ask:
tecumseh I've read a lot on this forum about spring or fall flows.
tecucumseh replies:
well full pollen baskets are a good sign, as are any direct observation on the kinds of flowers the bees may be visiting, but like michael bush has suggested thin nectar (it will easily fall out when you give the frame a bit of a snap) is the only sure sign. this fresh nectar is most likely to be stored along the edges of the brood patch. another sign (especially evident after a dirth) is that the girl's disposition will dramatically change for the better.
brent.roberts
10-23-2006, 06:02 PM
We've been having warm enough temps here that some of my bees are flying. Lot's make it to the screened leaf cover on the swimming pool, tank up on water, get too chilled and too heavy and never make home. Lots of dead girls on the pool cover.
Wish they'd get smarter. It's rained every day here for a month. They only have to sit on the landing board to get water.... but that doesn't have the minerals and salt that's in the pool water. ?!?!
[ October 23, 2006, 07:03 PM: Message edited by: brent.roberts ]