Thermal Impacts of Apicultural Practice
"In the delicate dance of life within a beehive, the unseen orchestrator is often thermodynamics, an intricate symphony of energy transfer and conservation"
Since Langstroth's development of the moveable frame hive, beekeeping techniques and hive design have mainly not changed . This invention completely changed the way beekeepers kept bees, making it much easier to harvest honey and inspect hives. Though there were many advantages to this design, there were also some unanticipated difficulties, particularly with regard to how bees control the temperature inside their hive. Maintaining robust, healthy, and productive colonies requires an understanding of these thermal dynamics as well as how hive design, management decisions, and environmental factors all affect temperature regulation.
"Honeybee colony temperature is controlled by social thermoregulation, with the bees collectively regulating heat and humidity to create a perfect environment for brood development and colony wellness. The brood nest where eggs, larvae, and pupae are reared is typically kept at 33-36°C relative humidity of 70%. Bees employ diverse techniques to create these conditions, including fanning to cool and shivering to warm, and heat shielding to protect the brood from overheating."
First, let's talk
about honeycomb, which is much more than just a place to store honey
or raise brood. A natural thermal buffer is provided by the comb
itself. About 15 millimeters thick, it is composed of beeswax, which
releases heat when it is cold and absorbs it when it is warm. This
keeps the hive's interior temperature comparatively constant. Because
of its high thermal mass, the honey kept inside the comb intensifies
this effect even more, acting as a heat sink.
This thermal
buffering helps the colony keep the brood warm and the hive
comfortable, which is especially crucial during weather
variations.
This natural thermal buffer is inadvertently
diminished when beekeepers harvest honey, particularly when they
remove honey combs.
The hive cannot
effectively retain heat or cool down as needed if there is less honey
and fewer combs.
The bees are under more stress as a result,
and they must work harder to control the temperature by heating the
brood to keep it warm or fanning their wings to cool the hive. Energy
that could be utilized for foraging, protecting the hive, or raising
the young is used up by all this additional work. This higher energy
cost has the potential to eventually slow colony growth and reduce
honey production.
Bees expend more energy when they have to reheat combs after harvest
or when combs are broken or removed. When resources are limited, such
as during droughts or cold snaps, this becomes particularly
difficult. The amount of thermal mass determines whether the hive can
remain warm or cool itself. It is easier for bees to keep a stable
environment when there is more comb and honey stored.
Another
important factor is the materials used to build the hive. The
majority of Langstroth hives have walls that are about 23 millimeters
thick and are constructed of softwood, such as pine. These materials
are easy to work with and long-lasting, but they are not very good
insulators. They cause temperatures from the outside to enter or
exit, requiring bees to expend more energy to maintain a constant
interior temperature. Hives constructed with thicker,
better-insulating materials or with natural logs, on the other hand,
can help buffer temperature swings and lessen the strain on the bees.
"Insulation emerges as a linchpin in the thermal equilibrium of a beehive. Bees, being ectothermic creatures, rely on external heat sources to regulate their internal temperature. Insulation serves as a shield against the capricious whims of the external environment, helping the hive maintain a consistent temperature conducive to the well-being and productivity of its inhabitants."
The addition of honey supers on top of the brood chamber is another management technique that affects hive thermodynamics. Here, timing is crucial. If the hive isn't adequately insulated, adding a super during cold weather may cause the brood to chill, increasing the risk of disease and mortality. On the other hand, bees can more readily heat new frames on warm days, which can increase honey production while also saving energy. According to research, warming supers before putting them on the hive can have a big impact. Bees can save two to three times the energy required to raise the temperature in frames by warming them to room temperature or just above. In colder climates or during cooler seasons, this is extremely advantageous. Reusing combs or prewarming frames is frequently a more efficient and sustainable method , different from their complete destruction, (especially in free-building frames without the use wire or wax sheet, honey is harvested by crushing and pressing) because products made of virgin wax or plastic can affect thermal inertia.
In the past, some beekeepers employed a method known as "nadiring," in which honey boxes were positioned beneath the brood chamber. Because heat rises, this took advantage of the natural heat gradient to create a warmer environment at the top, which aided in the winter development of brood.
"There is one place in the hive that is warmer than the others, and that is the space immediately above the cluster. That is because warm air rises.For this reason, an insulating layer placed above the bees reduces the rate of heat loss from the hive"
This technique offered some thermal
benefits that might be helpful in colder climates, but it is less
popular now since most contemporary beekeepers prefer top supering
for ease of honey extraction.
The regulation of hive temperature
is also significantly influenced by environmental factors. Bees can
collect honey more effectively on warm, sunny days, which lowers
their energy expenses.
However, if not controlled, cold and windy days can slow down the development of brood and honey production by increasing the colony's need for thermogenesis. Because of this, adjusting the timing of interventions, like replacing combs or adding supers, according to weather forecasts can have a significant impact. Colony health and resource efficiency can be greatly increased by making minor adjustments like pre-warming supers or purchasing insulated hive designs.
Designing hives with improved insulation and passive temperature
control shows promise. The energy required by bees to maintain their
internal environment can be decreased by using sophisticated
materials, placing honey stores strategically, and employing more
intelligent management practices.
"With each hive constructed, and every beekeeper's intervention, the delicate balance between thermodynamics and bee survival continues, reminding us of the profound interconnectedness between nature's mysteries and the scientific pursuits that seek to unravel them."
References
- Anderson, K. E., & Furgal, C. (2018). Insulation and hive design for improved thermoregulation. *Journal of Apicultural Science*
- Büchler, R., Zoller, S., & Spivak, M. (2014). Pre-warming honey supers effects on colony energy expenditure. *Apidologie*
- Le Conte, Y., & Hood, W. M. (1999). Hive insulation and thermal regulation. *Bee World*
- Mattila, H. R., & Otis, G. W. (2006). Effects of temperature on brood development and colony performance. *Journal of Apicultural Research*
- Oldroyd, B. P., & Wongsiri, S. (2006). Asian honey bees: biology, conservation, and human interactions. Harvard University Press.
- Seeley, T. D. (1985). Nadiring an alternative hive management technique. *American Bee Journal*
- Seeley, T. D., Tarpy, D. R., & Chapman, N. C. (2015). Thermal regulation in honey bee colonies. *Advances in Insect Physiology*
- Seeley, T. D., & Visscher, P. K. (2008). Honey bee colonies as a superorganism. *American Scientist*
- Winston, M. L. (1987). The biology of the honey bee. Harvard University Press.
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