Bees and the diminishing Winter Brood: Why They Stop Laying Eggs
As the colder months approach, honeybee colonies undergo significant changes to prepare for winter. One of the most important—and perhaps least understood—transformations within the hive is the queen’s cessation of egg-laying and the diminishing Winter Brood, which typically begins in late autumn. This pause in brood production is a crucial survival strategy for the entire colony, helping to conserve energy and resources as the bees prepare for the long, cold winter ahead.
But why do honeybees stop laying eggs in winter? And how does this pause in reproduction affect the hive? In this post, we’ll explore the fascinating dynamics behind the winter brood pause, its role in the colony’s survival, and what this means for beekeepers.
The Role of Brood in a Bee Colony
Before we dive into why bees stop producing brood in winter, it’s important to understand the vital role that brood (the developing young) plays in the life of a bee colony. During the warmer months, the queen bee is constantly laying eggs—up to 2,000 per day at her peak! These eggs develop into larvae, which are fed and nurtured by the worker bees until they pupate and emerge as adult bees.
The continuous cycle of brood production is essential for the colony’s success. The vast numbers of bees that hatch throughout the spring and summer are needed to forage, guard the hive, care for the queen and brood, and perform the many other duties that keep the hive running smoothly. During these warmer months, the colony expands rapidly, reaching its peak population in the summer when nectar and pollen are plentiful.
Why Does the Queen Stop Laying Eggs in Winter?
As temperatures drop and foraging becomes impossible, honeybee colonies shift their focus from reproduction to survival. One of the first signs of this shift is the queen’s gradual reduction in egg-laying and the diminishing winter brood, which typically starts in late autumn. By winter, in temperate climates like the Brecon Beacons, the queen will have stopped laying eggs altogether.
But why does this happen? There are several key reasons:
- Resource Conservation
In the winter, there are no flowers in bloom and no foraging opportunities, which means the colony must rely entirely on the honey they’ve stored throughout the warmer months. Producing brood is an energy-intensive process. The workers need to keep the brood nest at a constant temperature of around 35°C, which requires consuming a lot of honey to generate the necessary heat. By pausing brood production, the colony can conserve valuable resources, as the bees can lower the internal temperature of the hive and consume less honey. - Winter Bees vs. Summer Bees
The bees that emerge in late autumn are different from the short-lived summer bees. Known as winter bees, they have a longer lifespan, sometimes living for several months, compared to summer worker bees who live for only 4-6 weeks. This extended lifespan means the colony doesn’t need to constantly replace dying workers as it does in the summer. The winter bees are physiologically adapted to survive the harsh conditions, storing more fat and protein in their bodies to sustain them through the colder months. With a stable, long-lived population of winter bees, there is no immediate need to produce more brood. - Colony Cohesion
The cessation of brood production helps maintain the colony’s cohesion. The queen’s pheromones, which signal her presence and reproductive status, play a key role in keeping the colony organized and functional. As the queen stops laying eggs, the workers can focus entirely on maintaining the winter cluster and protecting the hive’s resources. This cluster, where the bees huddle together to conserve heat, is essential for winter survival, and the absence of brood means that the bees can concentrate on keeping themselves and the queen warm. - Temperature Regulation
Without the need to care for brood, bees can reduce the hive’s internal temperature during the winter. While the summer brood nest must be kept at a balmy 35°C, the bees are able to let the temperature of the winter cluster drop to around 20-25°C, which is much easier to maintain in cold weather. This reduced temperature helps conserve honey stores and allows the bees to survive on less food over the winter months.
The Impact of No Brood on the Colony’s Behavior
With the absence of brood, the entire dynamic of the colony shifts during winter. Foraging, once the bees’ main focus, ceases entirely. Bees rarely leave the hive during winter, except on occasional warmer days when they venture out for cleansing flights to defecate. Their energy is now devoted entirely to clustering around the queen and keeping the hive warm. Worker bees spend the winter huddled in this cluster, vibrating their wing muscles to generate heat.
Without the need to care for developing larvae or pupae, the colony becomes much more still and quiet. The hive takes on a subdued energy, with far less buzzing and movement compared to the bustling activity of summer.
The Queen’s Winter Role
Though the queen bee stops laying eggs during the winter, she remains at the heart of the hive, protected and warmed by the worker bees. Her presence is vital for the colony’s survival, even when she’s not producing new brood. The queen’s pheromones continue to regulate the behavior of the worker bees, ensuring that the colony stays organized and cohesive.
As winter progresses and the days begin to lengthen, the queen will gradually resume egg-laying, though in much smaller quantities than during the summer months. This early winter brood is critical to the colony’s recovery and growth in the spring. By late winter or early spring, as temperatures rise and foraging becomes possible again, the queen will begin laying more eggs, and the cycle of brood production will start anew.
The Winter Pause and Beekeeping
For beekeepers, understanding the natural rhythm of brood production is essential for managing a healthy hive. During winter, beekeepers must take special care to ensure that the colony has enough food to last through the colder months. Since the bees are not producing new brood, their honey consumption is lower, but it’s still important to monitor the hive’s food stores and provide supplemental feeding if necessary.
In addition to food management, beekeepers should avoid disturbing the hive too frequently in winter. Opening the hive can break the cluster and expose the bees to cold air, which can be deadly. Regular checks are still important, but they should be done with minimal disruption.
At Brecon Beecombs, we emphasize these critical winter beekeeping practices in our Introduction to Beekeeping courses. We teach new beekeepers how to recognize the signs that their colony is preparing for winter and how to support them through the brood pause and beyond. Understanding the natural patterns of brood production, especially the cessation of egg-laying in winter, is key to ensuring that your bees remain healthy and strong as they head into the colder months.
What Happens in Spring?
As the temperatures begin to rise in late winter and early spring, the queen will resume laying eggs, albeit slowly at first. The colony will start producing new brood to replace the winter bees, many of whom will have lived for several months by this point. The new generation of bees will emerge just in time for the first foraging opportunities of spring, ensuring that the hive is well-prepared to gather nectar and pollen as the new season begins.
Spring is a crucial time for beekeepers, as it marks the start of a new cycle of growth and expansion within the hive. At Brecon Beecombs, we help beekeepers prepare for this transition, teaching them how to manage their hives as the queen resumes brood production and the colony begins to expand.
Brecon Beecombs: Our Own Winter Pause
At Brecon Beecombs, we see this natural cycle play out in our own hives every year. As the cold winds blow across the Brecon Beacons, our bees, like those in hives around the world, cluster together to conserve warmth and resources. The queen in each of our colonies stops laying eggs, allowing the winter bees to take on the task of protecting the hive through the cold months.
For us, this is a quiet time in the apiary—a chance to reflect on the resilience of these incredible creatures. It’s a reminder of the delicate balance between activity and rest, growth and conservation, that defines the natural world. As we head into winter, our focus shifts to supporting the bees through this crucial period, ensuring they have the resources they need to emerge strong and ready for the spring ahead. The hives require less attentioin from the beekeeper through the winter months – this extra time can be devoted to preparing and cleaning all the used equipment ready for the Spring when the Queen starts laying again.
If you’re interested in learning more about the fascinating world of honeybees and how they navigate the challenges of winter, join us for one of our Introduction to Beekeeping courses at Brecon Beecombs. You’ll gain hands-on experience and knowledge about the natural rhythms of the hive, helping you become a confident and capable beekeeper, no matter the season.