How Much Sun Do Your Bees Need? (2024)

FAQs

How Much Sun Do Your Bees Need? ›

All beekeepers agree that both morning and evening sun have benefits to the hive. The thing that varies is if you should have dappled sun or full sun in the afternoon. For zones 1 – 6, you want full sun. For 7 - 11, you'll want some shade.

The Ideal Amount of Sun and Shade for Bees

The ideal situation would be early morning sun, late afternoon shade, and evening sun. A colony in those conditions would warm up early in the day and start flying. By late afternoon when temperatures spike, the bees would be shielded from direct sunlight.

Bees need four things. First, they need sun, or afternoon shade if your weather is hot. Second, they must have access to fresh water near the hive. We used a large plant saucer with stones in the center for the bees to land on and refreshed the water every day.

Place colonies where they'll have some protection from the late afternoon sun. Thomas Seeley in Honeybee Democracy says of bait hives: . . . a good location is about 5 meters off the ground, highly visible but fully shaded, and facing south. All these comments indicate that bees prefer a home in the shade.

The truth is that when summer arrives and the sun is high, bees suffer, as the high temperatures are a problem for them. Bees are also affected by the heat, so beekeepers use measures to keep them healthy during the months when temperatures are high.

In general, bumble bees begin struggling to fly when temperatures rise above 100°F, with smaller workers being less sensitive to heat extremes compared to larger queens (Heinrich 2004).

Spots with too much shade or cold winds are also poor choices. Southern exposure at the hive entrance is ideal. Year-round accessibility to the hives is important.

Can you keep bees in your backyard in California? Yes, the Flow Hive is perfect for beekeeping in backyards in California. You don't need acres of space, just a couple of square feet in which to put your hive. The bees will travel in a radius to find food and return to the hive laden with pollen and nectar.

Some bees are crepuscular. They usually travel during dusk, night, and early morning. These special bees can fly during the night with little light.

Dark colors like red and black are perceived as aggressive predators so they will be more agitated and defensive towards you. Sticking to white or pale colors would be the best choice. Your smell could also be a factor in whether or not bees give you a visit.

What color can bees not see? ›

Bees, like many insects, see from approximately 300 to 650 nm. That means they can't see the color red, but they can see in the ultraviolet spectrum (which humans cannot). Bees can also easily distinguish between dark and light – making them very good at seeing edges.

Remember: don't swat at the bees, just leave. If you accidently disturb a nest, run immediately. Try to get to an enclosed shelter (such as a car) or run until the bees stop following you.

The brood will die if the body temperature exceeds 960F. 2. Beeswax comb will start to get soft and collapse when 1040F ambient temperature is exceeded.

The longer your girls are in the sun, the longer they keep working. If you don't have the evening sun hitting your hives, they'll stop working earlier than if you did. The longer they work, the more honey they'll produce. All beekeepers agree that both morning and evening sun have benefits to the hive.

Bee activity will stop all together if temperatures drop too low. Somewhere between 39 – 45 degrees Fahrenheit, bees will become lethargic and enter a state of dormant hibernation. If too much time passes in this temperature range, the bees will eventually starve and die off.

Forager bees need to leave the hive, so they are exposed to the elements more frequently and are much more sensitive to light. Foragers use the light to determine how much time they have left to work. They will leave at the first sign of daylight and their activity will peak in the early afternoon.

Although this varies from species to species, their pollination patterns are consistent within species. For Honey bees and wasps, they are most active during the afternoon from 1 pm to 4 pm (PDT).

Look for a low traffic area where bees are less likely to be disturbed. Utilize a hive stand or cinder blocks to elevate the hive 12 to 18 inches off of the ground to keep it safe from skunks and other animals which may want to disturb the hive.