Plain Talk: Hot Bees (289)
About this episode
Jim Tew discusses the behavior of honey bees during summer heat and shares personal anecdotes from his beekeeping experiences.
Summer heat brings a familiar sight to many beekeepers: honey bees clustered outside the hive entrance, hanging from the landing board, and covering the front of the colony. In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew reflects on what beekeepers often call "bearding" and shares memories from decades of working bees in the heat of the Deep South. Jim explains why colonies gather outside during hot weather and why this behavior is often a normal part of colony temperature regulation rather than a sign of trouble. From long days in Alabama bee yards to late-night pollination moves, he recalls the challenges of managing large colonies when temperatures remain high long after sunset. Along the way, Jim shares stories about moving bees for pollination, dealing with protective clothing before modern ventilated suits existed, encountering rattlesnakes and black widow spiders in remote bee yards, and learning valuable lessons from commercial beekeepers about transporting colonies safely. The discussion also turns to the many other creatures attracted to an apiary. Deer, raccoons, skunks, bears, spiders, and countless other animals often become part of the larger ecosystem surrounding…
More episodes of Honey Bee Obscura Podcast
- Archive Special: Removing Honey (292)
- Plain Talk: Hot Bees, Ants and Weeds (291)
- A Small Open Colony (290)
- Archive Special: Working Bees in the Heat (288)
- Plain Talk: Tall Grass In The Bee Yard (287)
- Plain Talk: Five Nice Hives (286)
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