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One of my lifelong passions is distance running, and I’ve always lived by the motto "rain, hail, or shine." Whether it’s a chilly morning, a downpour, or a summer scorcher, I lace up my running shoes and hit the pavement. But when I became a beekeeper, I quickly realised that the world of bees operates under a very different set of rules.
Bees are highly dependent on the weather. While I’m out running regardless of the conditions, bees are much more selective about when they venture out for their marathon foraging sessions. And when I say ‘marathon,’ I mean it - bees can visit anywhere from 50 to 100 flowers in a single foraging trip, depending on factors like the type of flower, distance between blooms, and nectar availability. Honeybees are incredibly efficient, often making multiple trips in a day, with each lasting from a few minutes to over an hour. During peak foraging periods, a single bee might visit several hundred flowers in a day.
Understanding the weather from a bee’s perspective is crucial for any beekeeper. Here is a look at how rain, hail, shine, and a few other variables affect our buzzing friends.
Rain: Bees Don’t Have Raincoats
While a light drizzle can be refreshing during a run, it’s a different story for bees. Heavy rain poses a significant risk of death or injury; bees flying through a storm are unlikely to fare well under a barrage of raindrops. Moreover, a bee’s remarkable navigational skills rely heavily on the sun, so when dark rain clouds roll in, it’s like someone has disabled their GPS. Rain can also wash away pollen from flowers, leaving bees with less to collect, and it dilutes the nectar in flowers, reducing its sugar content. Since bees are connoisseurs of nectar, preferring it rich and sugary, they often hold off on foraging until flowers have replenished their nectar supplies after a storm.
Hail: A Serious Hazard
Hailstorms present another challenge for bees. Long before the first hailstone falls, bees can sense changes in atmospheric pressure and temperature. The tiny hairs on their bodies are sensitive to electrostatic buildup in storm clouds, acting as an early warning system that can trigger a rapid retreat to the hive. Inside, the bees cluster together to maintain warmth and protect their queen - a critical behavior that helps them survive the storm. Strong winds that often accompany hail make it difficult for bees to control their flight, increasing the risk of injury or being blown off course. During a hailstorm or strong winds, bees hunker down, waiting for calmer skies.
Shine: The Sweet Spot for Bees
Sunny days are the bees’ equivalent of perfect running weather. With temperatures between 18°C and 32°C, bees are at their most active, foraging efficiently and keeping the hive in tip top shape. Sunlight is essential for their navigation and locating flowers, making warm sunny days ideal for their work. While mildly overcast skies are still acceptable, heavy clouds or darkness can significantly reduce their activity. On a calm day with a light breeze, bees are in their element, buzzing from flower to flower, gathering the nectar and pollen they need to keep the hive thriving.
The Beekeeper’s Motto: Sun, Sun, Sun
One of the best ways to learn about bees is by observing them. You’ll notice that they’re most active on warm, sunny days, typically between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. This is the perfect time to open up a hive, as most of the forager bees will be out and about, leaving the hive quieter and less likely to become defensive.
Opening a hive on a wet or windy day, on the other hand, is asking for trouble. Bees are more likely to sting when they’re stuck inside, just as you’d probably be cranky if cooped up indoors all day (this brings back memories of COVID lock downs!). So, while I may stick to "rain, hail, or shine" for my running, my beekeeping motto is definitely more along the lines of "sun, sun, sun" - as The Beatles would say.
Bee Education: Working with Nature and Respecting the Bees
In our Bee Education and Bee Incursion programs, we discuss how bees react to different weather conditions and how the weather affects the actions of the beekeeper. By understanding and By understanding and respecting the bees' needs, and working with them rather than against them, we can help ensure that our bees remain healthy and productive—rain, hail, or shine! the bees' needs, and working with them rather than against them, we can help ensure that our bees remain healthy and productive - rain, hail, or shine!
Bee-Inspired Music: Friends with Honey Musical Kids Show
Making learning fun and engaging is what inspired us to create the Friends With Honey Musical Kids Show Album. A classic and hugely popular song on the album is a folk-pop cover of The Beatles’ "Here Comes the Sun." An ode to growth and the return of summer, this song is used to educate children about why we see more bees during the warmer months.
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