How Honey Bees Survive the Cold

How Honey Bees Survive the Cold

By S&B Nursery and Apiary

When winter arrives, honey bees don’t migrate or hibernate. Instead, they rely on teamwork, stored honey, and an incredible ability to regulate heat inside the hive.

At S&B Nursery and Apiary, we’re often asked how something as small as a honey bee can survive freezing temperatures. The answer lies in how the colony functions as one living system.

🐝 Winter Cluster

As temperatures drop below about 57°F, bees stop flying and form a tight cluster inside the hive. This cluster surrounds the queen and acts like a living heater.

Bees on the outer edge insulate the group, while bees on the inside vibrate their flight muscles to produce warmth. Even during freezing weather, the center of the cluster stays close to 90–95°F.

🌡️ Too Cold to Fly

Honey bee wings only work when their flight muscles are warm enough to contract rapidly.

Bees need their thorax to reach roughly 85–95°F to fly. Below about 50°F, most bees are physically unable to fly. At 45°F or colder, attempting flight can be fatal.

This is why bees may be seen crawling near a hive on cool days—they aren’t sick, they’re simply grounded by temperature.

Staying Inside Saves Energy

Flying uses a large amount of energy and burns valuable honey stores. In winter, bees remain inside the hive to conserve fuel and avoid the risk of not making it back home.

💨 Cleansing Flights

On warmer winter days, usually when temperatures rise above 50–55°F, bees take short trips outside known as cleansing flights.

Bees avoid defecating inside the hive and will hold waste for weeks if necessary. These brief flights allow them to relieve themselves, stretch their wings, and return quickly to the warmth of the cluster.

Seeing this activity is a positive sign of a healthy colony.

🍯 Honey = Fuel

Honey is what powers everything bees do in winter—heat production, muscle movement, and survival. Without enough stored honey, even a strong hive may not survive cold months.

Beekeeper Tip from S&B Nursery and Apiary

Avoid opening hives during cold weather. Opening a hive allows heat to escape and stresses the colony.

Instead, lift the hive slightly from the back to gauge food stores, watch for cleansing flights on warm days, and make sure the hive has ventilation without drafts.

A quiet hive in winter is usually a healthy hive.