How to Prepare Bees for Winter: The Order of Work by Climate
Prepare bees for winter in order: mites first, then colony strength, honey, entrance guards and moisture control, with extension figures for cold, mid-Atlantic, Gulf and Florida climates.
Daniel M.
Daniel has kept honey bees for more than 12 years and manages roughly 45 colonies in eastern North Dakota. His work covers seasonal colony management, spring buildup, swarm prevention, summer honey production and preparing colonies for a long northern winter. He writes mainly about beginner beekeeping, hive inspections, seasonal management, swarm prevention, honey harvesting and hive equipment, with an emphasis on how weather and timing shape colony development in a northern climate. He is a member of his local beekeeping association and continues formal study in practical apiary management. Most of his articles here are Beekeeping Basics guides: the material a first- or second-year beekeeper reaches for, such as when to open a hive, what an inspection should cover and what each part of the season asks of a colony. His seasonal timing is written from eastern North Dakota conditions, so readers in milder climates should expect their own calendar to run earlier. Nearly all of his articles are second-reviewed by Thomas B. before they carry Daniel's name, and Daniel in turn reviews a smaller number of colleagues' articles on hive hardware, equipment, honey harvesting and pollination work.
Where Do Bees Go in Winter? What Honey, Bumble and Solitary Bees Do
Honey bees stay in the hive, bumble bees survive only as queens buried in soil, and solitary bees wait in sealed nests. One table and cold-climate figures show where each goes.
Best Beehive for Cold Climates: Polystyrene vs Wood, by the Evidence
Sellers rate polystyrene and other foam hives at about five times the insulation of a pine box. Here is what USDA and other studies measured, and how the insulated hives sold in the US compare.
8 Frame vs 10 Frame Hive: Weights, Winter Survival and What Fits
An 8-frame hive is 2.5 in narrower and 11 to 17 lb lighter per full deep. Real weights, which parts fit both widths, and how each width winters up north.
How Much Honey Do Bees Need for Winter? Targets, Frames and Weights
Most colonies need 60 to 100 pounds of honey for winter, depending on climate. How to tell honey weight from hive weight, count frames, heft or weigh a hive, and fix a shortfall.
Bee Swarm: What to Do If You Find One and Who to Call
Bees hanging in the open are usually a swarm that moves on within hours to days; bees using one gap in a wall are a colony that stays. How to tell, who to call, and checked state removal lists.
Missouri Beekeeping Laws and Regulations: The Complete Guide
Missouri has no statewide beehive registration, but the seven Bootheel cotton counties, bees brought in from other states and Kansas City have their own rules. Here is what the statutes and city code actually require.
Tennessee Beekeeping Laws and Regulations: Registration, City Rules and Honey Sales
Tennessee requires every beekeeper to register each apiary with the state every three years. What the Apiary Act requires, city rules in Memphis, Knoxville and Chattanooga, and how to sell honey legally.
Medical Grade Honey: What It Is and How It’s Used in Wound Care
Medical grade honey is sterile, tested honey sold as FDA-cleared wound dressings. This guide covers the FDA record, over-the-counter use, and what trials show for burns and ulcers.