What do honey bee colonies typically do in the winter?

During the winter months, honey bee colonies typically cluster together to maintain warmth. This behavior is crucial for their survival in colder temperatures. The bees gather in a tight ball within the hive, with individuals on the outer edges of the cluster helping to insulate the ones in the center. To generate heat, bees vibrate their flight muscles while remaining relatively still, effectively keeping the cluster warm enough to survive until spring. This clustering behavior helps the colony conserve energy as they minimize their movement and reduce heat loss.

In winter, honey bees do not forage for nectar, as floral resources are scarce. Instead, they rely on stored honey as their primary food source, which means gathering resources for spring is not a winter activity but rather something that occurs in the warmer months when flowers bloom. Additionally, reproduction does not happen rapidly during winter; instead, the colony maintains a relatively stable population because the queen may slow down or stop laying eggs until spring arrives. Thus, clustering is the vital behavior that enables them to endure the winter months.