Heat Management
The last couple of days in South East Queensland have brought about heatwave conditions. Heat can pose a big problem to stingless bees. While it is a threat, it can be managed with a few simple actions.
Location is the most important factor in heat management. It is a preventative measure for giving your bees the best chance of dealing with hot temperatures. Locating your hive in a position that gets morning sun but is in the shade from around 10am means that your hive will be shaded during the hottest parts of the day.
Choosing a location that is on a north east facing slope also can mean a hive will receive more cool coastal breezes. The final factor of positioning is to be aware of any reflective heat surfaces around hives. dark coloured concrete, concrete renders and metal can reflect heat towards hives causing heat issues. Placing hives closer to plants and shrubs can help in heat management because plants naturally manage temperature and don’t reflect as much heat as solid objects.
If your hive has bees lining up on the entrance of the hive this can indicate fanning. Hives that have bees fanning the entrance are experiencing heat stress. Providing extra shade or a damp towel over the top of the hive can reduce this with evaporating cooling. Placing one end of the damp towel into a bucket of water can be a good idea if you are not able to observe the hive throughout the day.
As a last resort, hives can be blocked up and moved into an airconditioned space if temperatures are going to exceed 40*. This is best done the night before using gauze over the entrance so that the hive can still breathe but bees cannot get out. Ensure any other entrances and the bottom breather vents are covered also.
This hive was beginning to show signs of heat management. You can see bees at the entrance fanning this wings to help regulate the temperature inside the hive. This is normal on warm days. If bees begin lining up outside on the front the hive fanning their wings it means they have moved into the next stage of heat management.
