Comments on: Winter in the Hive http://lifebeforedeath.blogsome.com/2007/09/28/winter-in-the-hive/ We get only one. Wed, 16 May 2012 21:13:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1-alpha by: Anne Blythe http://lifebeforedeath.blogsome.com/2007/09/28/winter-in-the-hive/#comment-172 Thu, 04 Oct 2007 19:23:39 +0100 http://lifebeforedeath.blogsome.com/2007/09/28/winter-in-the-hive/#comment-172 Very interesting. I didn't know bees hibernate in winter. Your post reminds me of a story by Roald Dahl titled ' Royal Jelly' Very interesting. I didn’t know bees hibernate in winter. Your post reminds me of a story by Roald Dahl titled ‘ Royal Jelly’

]]> by: Felicia Gilljam http://lifebeforedeath.blogsome.com/2007/09/28/winter-in-the-hive/#comment-165 Sun, 30 Sep 2007 13:08:01 +0100 http://lifebeforedeath.blogsome.com/2007/09/28/winter-in-the-hive/#comment-165 They secrete the wax from glands on their abdomen. So they use the same raw materials as is used to create all other kinds of fatty acids, one would assume. They secrete the wax from glands on their abdomen. So they use the same raw materials as is used to create all other kinds of fatty acids, one would assume.

]]> by: Martin R http://lifebeforedeath.blogsome.com/2007/09/28/winter-in-the-hive/#comment-164 Sun, 30 Sep 2007 08:34:29 +0100 http://lifebeforedeath.blogsome.com/2007/09/28/winter-in-the-hive/#comment-164 Cool, thanks! One more question. With what raw materials do bees make the wax? I figure there wouldn't be much external raw materials around to make lids with in the winter time. Cool, thanks! One more question. With what raw materials do bees make the wax? I figure there wouldn’t be much external raw materials around to make lids with in the winter time.

]]> by: Felicia Gilljam http://lifebeforedeath.blogsome.com/2007/09/28/winter-in-the-hive/#comment-162 Sat, 29 Sep 2007 13:11:50 +0100 http://lifebeforedeath.blogsome.com/2007/09/28/winter-in-the-hive/#comment-162 When we've taken their honey we make sure they have enough empty combs to fit the winter fodder. They produce the wax themselves - although they also move wax from comb to comb by "nibbling" as you said. (This was figured out by someone who dyed a couple of combs in weird colours and then discovered that the dyed wax ended up a little here and there in the hive.) What the sugar solution is like, I don't know. I guess it could pass for honey for someone who doesn't know a lot about it. But as it doesn't contain all those extra little things that give honey its distinctive flavour ... well, I doubt I'd be fooled. When we’ve taken their honey we make sure they have enough empty combs to fit the winter fodder.

They produce the wax themselves - although they also move wax from comb to comb by “nibbling” as you said. (This was figured out by someone who dyed a couple of combs in weird colours and then discovered that the dyed wax ended up a little here and there in the hive.)

What the sugar solution is like, I don’t know. I guess it could pass for honey for someone who doesn’t know a lot about it. But as it doesn’t contain all those extra little things that give honey its distinctive flavour … well, I doubt I’d be fooled.

]]> by: Martin R http://lifebeforedeath.blogsome.com/2007/09/28/winter-in-the-hive/#comment-161 Sat, 29 Sep 2007 09:37:24 +0100 http://lifebeforedeath.blogsome.com/2007/09/28/winter-in-the-hive/#comment-161 I take it you replace the combs once you've extracted the honey? Where do they get the wax for the lids? By nibbling at the edges of the combs? Come to think of it, where do they get the wax in the first place? What is the sugar solution like after being moved by the bees? Like honey? I take it you replace the combs once you’ve extracted the honey?

Where do they get the wax for the lids? By nibbling at the edges of the combs?

Come to think of it, where do they get the wax in the first place?

What is the sugar solution like after being moved by the bees? Like honey?

]]> by: Felicia Gilljam http://lifebeforedeath.blogsome.com/2007/09/28/winter-in-the-hive/#comment-159 Fri, 28 Sep 2007 21:48:59 +0100 http://lifebeforedeath.blogsome.com/2007/09/28/winter-in-the-hive/#comment-159 They move it into the hive and store it just like they store honey; sealed under wax lids in the combs. They move it into the hive and store it just like they store honey; sealed under wax lids in the combs.

]]> by: Martin R http://lifebeforedeath.blogsome.com/2007/09/28/winter-in-the-hive/#comment-158 Fri, 28 Sep 2007 21:34:11 +0100 http://lifebeforedeath.blogsome.com/2007/09/28/winter-in-the-hive/#comment-158 Thank you, excellent! One question, though: do the bees move the sugar solution into the hive before eating it? How then do they store it? Or do individual bees visit the sugar bucket every time they get hungry throughout winter? Even the queen? Thank you, excellent!

One question, though: do the bees move the sugar solution into the hive before eating it? How then do they store it? Or do individual bees visit the sugar bucket every time they get hungry throughout winter? Even the queen?

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