Thread: Beekeeping

How long do the Bee's live?
Don't they all freeze to death without a heater?

Originally Posted by Hirlau

How long do the Bee's live?
Don't they all freeze to death without a heater?

Depends on their "Role."

Queens: 3-5 yrs.

Workers: (depends) If born/hatched in the spring: 40-ish days; IF born/hatched in the fall: 150-ish days. ((Basically...you want to be a Late Bloomer...no pun intended) ))

Drones: 90-120 days (It really depends on how 'willing' one is to "give up their Virginity", as Drones 'usually' don't make is but a few days, after mating((In FLIGHT, mind you...which is AMAZING, in and of itself)). If they do...they WILL die come fall. )



All, of course, are dependent upon your climate...Warm = longer: Cold = shorter.


As a side note: They do not 'freeze to death' in the winter (even in the coldest of climates). Surprisingly enough, a hive can generate, up to 120 degrees F...IF they want to. ((Which is another AMAZING thing about theses little 'Demon Creatures', as I call them. They can "Regulate" things, like Temp. (that I cannot)...merely at "Will."))

So they live less than a year; a sad thing.
If I'm reincarnated as a Bee, I'm not spending my life in one hive; I'm spreading my pollen around in all the hives.

Originally Posted by Hirlau

If I'm reincarnated as a Bee, I'm not spending my life in one hive; I'm spreading my pollen around in all the hives.

THAT'S what I'm talking about!!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by Hirlau

So they live less than a year; a sad thing.
If I'm reincarnated as a Bee, I'm not spending my life in one hive; I'm spreading my pollen around in all the hives.

But you won't be able to straight shave, so what's the point in living anyways?

I'd be a Busy Little Bee, no time to shave.

Drones only spread their pollen once if they are luck and then plummet to their death.......

Then I better hit the buffet first !

I have read that the colder the weather the less food they need for the winter because they are not as active.

Then again they will starve to death within a few inches of food in the hive because they will not move the cluster over to eat it.

Originally Posted by 32t

I have read that the colder the weather the less food they need for the winter because they are not as active.

Then again they will starve to death within a few inches of food in the hive because they will not move the cluster over to eat it.

Yes/No. Depends on where your Queen came from, originally. Say you buy your queen from, say Fl., which is a common distributor of Queens and "Starter" packs. Well, she (and they) are 'programed' via DNA to live/mate/produce in a certain number of days. Whereas, just the opposite if you acquire a Queen/starter pack from a northern region.


Yes, to the 2nd. They will 'Defend' the hive, come hell or high water...even if it means keeping it warm vs starving to death!