As autumn reaches its peak, bees begin their critical preparations for the approaching winter.

One of the key strategies they use is reducing their brood numbers.

This adjustment is done in proportion to their food reserves, ensuring the hive’s survival during the colder months.

Why Do Bees Reduce Brood Numbers?

Bees are incredibly efficient when it comes to managing their resources.

During the summer, colonies work hard to build up their brood and store enough honey to last them through winter.

However, as the days get shorter and temperatures drop, bees naturally decrease their brood production.

This ensures that they have enough food to maintain the entire colony without depleting their reserves.

Proportional to Food Reserves

The decision to reduce brood isn’t random and it’s directly related to the hive’s food stores and available natural gatherings.

If the colony has plenty of honey and an active source to gather more, they may continue to raise brood before winter fully kicks in.

But if the reserves run low, the bees will stop producing brood entirely, immediately after they feel they have enough “winter bees”.

Preparing for Winter

Conserving Resources: By reducing the number of young bees, the colony minimizes the number of mouths to feed.

Less brood means less energy needed to keep everyone warm and less honey consumed.

Managing Brood and Honey: Beekeepers can help by ensuring that there are enough honey reserves for the winter months and they can keep stimulating their bees just before winter kicks in with diluted honey or some sugar syrup.

It’s essential to inspect the hive in autumn and, if necessary, provide supplemental feeding to boost the colony’s chances of survival.