What do the bees do when it snows? Mike Maze explains

WRAL meteorologist Mike Mzae explains how honey bees circle the queen inside their hive when the weather gets chilly.
Posted 12/9/2018, 10:19:00 PM Updated 9/23/2025, 7:53:26 PM

ROXBORO.

I WANT TO SHARE THIS PICTURE

WITH YOU.

WE HAVE BEEHIVES COVERED IN

SNOW.

EVEN ATLANTA HAS HIVES.

THESE ARE THE BEEHIVES ON TOP

OF OUR BUILDING.

SO HOW ARE THE BEES OKAY WHEN

IT'S THIS COLD?

THE WORKERS GATHER AROUND THE

QUEEN AND THEY VIBRATE THEIR

WINGS CREATING WARMTH IN THE

HIGHS.

THEY COVERED THE QUEEN IN A

BALL SHAPE AND THEY MOVE AROUND

IN THE HIVE TO EAT THE HONEY

THAT HAS BEEN STORED THROUGH

THE SEASON.

THEY WILL BE OKAY, AS LONG AS

PLENTY OF WORKERS SURROUND THE

QUEEN AND KEEP HER WARM.

AND THEY ROTATE THEY ALL REMAIN

WARM.

WITH A VIBRATING OF THE WINGS

IT REMAINS A WARM IN THE HIVE

THAT'S HOW THEY ARE ABLE TO

SURVIVE THOSE COLD WINTER

MONTHS.

THEY WILL GET OUT OF THAT WHEN

TEMPERATURES A WARM UP THERE IS

AN ENTRANCE REDUCER ON THE HIVES

THAT IS LESS THAN 1 INCH IN

DIAMETER.

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