Early spring brings bees buzzing out

Photo: SCANPIX

For the bees, traditionally the initial cleansing flights happen at end of March or in April. This year, warm weather has lured them out much sooner.

Jüri Lugus, owner of Kubja Beekeeping Farm in Jõgeva County, has these past days detected bees on the move. «I did spot some taking their cleaning flights, yesterday,» he said – a lot earlier than the past years. The cleansing flights are to eliminate body wastes and then begin to brood.

«Well they tell by the warmth. Once it’s eight to ten Celsius, they are coming out having eaten the whole winter long and never been out [to potty],» explained Mr Lugus.

At Sireli Beekeeping Farm in the isle of Hiiumaa, owner Peep Martverk thinks the initial flights were performed a couple of weeks ago as the warm weather first hit. «Then, we had nine degrees [Celsius] in Hiiumaa and they must have done it then,» said Mr Martverk who keeps an eye on the farm from Tallinn.

Cold wave not welcome

On the one hand, early cleansing flights are good as allowing brooding to begin. On the other, potential cold waves may do a great deal of damage. «Bitter cold after cleansing flights are not good. The bees can no longer move, they are brooding and cannot go seek for food,» explained Mr Lugus.

An unexpected cold wave may actually prove fatal for bees. «This kind of changeable weather winter isn’t the best as the bees get the spring feeling and begin to brood, but the brood needs warmth and it may happen that they die,» explained Mr Martverk, but added that if the warmth stays it is good as the bees get an early start with nectar and pollen.  

Estonian Beekeepers Association head Aleksander Kilk said the «the sooner the better» rule is not valid regarding the cleansing flights. «Some bees are sensitive to the biological clock and do the flights when it says it is right. But some react more intensely to temperature outside. Too early is not good, better be a bit late,» he explained.

Years vary

Mr Kilk admitted the bees cleaning flight time may be affected by outer irritants such as people moving or tree cutting near hives; but the temperature comes before all that.

«As the winter was rather warm, in some apiaries the bees have even partially done their cleansing flights in mid-February when the weather was sunny and warm. I don’t think they have done the complete flight yet, anywhere, as they are waiting for the real warmth,» said Mr Kilk.

According to him, the flight time varies every year. «There have been the years when the cleansing flight has only happened in the beginning of April, when the snow lasted till mid-April. But in some years it has been as early as the end of January,» related Mr Kilk. He said for the bee colonies the flight marks the beginning of spring.