Introduction

For conscientious beekeepers, the autumn harvest of honey from a beehive is a vital process that ensures the well-being and survival of the colony over the winter months. However, what happens if a beekeeper forgoes harvesting and leaves all the stored honey within the hive? This article explores the potential consequences of this practice, while also examining the behavior of bees in wild hives.

Consequences of Not Harvesting Honey

Overwintering Bees

Bees need adequate resources to survive the winter months. When a beekeeper leaves sufficient honey in the hive, the bees can safely overwinter. This means that when there is no queen excluder (a device to prevent the queen from laying in the super frames instead of the brood box), the bees will consume their stored honey as their primary source of nourishment. However, in tropical regions without such a barrier or during winter in colder climates, bees use the stored honey to sustain themselves through the winter, which is crucial for the survival of the colony.

Brood and Egg Production

When bees store excess honey, it is not just for immediate consumption. Honey is also a critical resource for rearing the brood and raising eggs. Bees use a combination of honey and nectar to feed the worker larvae, and they require copious amounts of energy to do so. If the honey is not harvested and the storage space is limited, the bees might resort to consuming the honey quickly, which could lead to a significant reduction in the colony's population. This scarcity of resources can lead to the queen not being able to lay enough eggs, resulting in a decline in the workforce.

Swarming

Swarming is a natural process where a colony splits into two, with the queen and a portion of the workers moving to establish a new hive. In cases where the space for new comb is insufficient and there is no honey left to store, swarming can be triggered. The absence of spare comb and honey storage space can create a situation where the bees decide to swarm and find a new location. If the old nest is abandoned, other bees or pests may invade and consume the honey and wax, leaving the original colony vulnerable.

Wild Bee Hives

Storage and Usage

In wild bee hives, the bees have limited spaces to store their honey. In tropical regions like Hawaii, where there is no significant winter, the stored honey serves as a form of insurance. The queen and her brood are nestled under a 'Tower of Honey' within the woodpile, where the bees can access the nectar and convert it into honey. In colder regions, the bees use this stored honey as a lifeline, ensuring their survival through the harsh winter months.

Honey as Winter Fuel

The stored honey acts as a vital winter fuel, helping the bees to remain warm and metabolize energy. Without this resource, the bees may become weaker and less able to maintain the hive's temperature, potentially leading to their demise. In these scenarios, the bees may rob other nests, leading to conflict and further depletion of resources.

Final Considerations

Both harvested and wild bee populations rely heavily on stored honey for their survival. Neglecting to harvest honey can lead to several detrimental outcomes, including the forced swarming of colonies, depletion of resources, and increased vulnerability to pests and other threats.

As beekeepers, it is crucial to understand the importance of honey harvesting and the impact it has on bee colony health and survival. By providing adequate resources and maintaining a balance between harvesting and feeding the bees, beekeepers can ensure that their hives thrive and remain strong.