The consumption by bee of honey during the winter season is directly and indirectly influenced by climatic conditions. On the one hand, the air temperature plays a key role in the activity required to maintain the minimum vital temperature, through the formation of winter clusters, on the other it conditions the brood potential at the end of winter and therefore the development of strong colonies during the spring. The analysis of the weight variations of an apiary located in Mugello, during three winter seasons, provided a preliminary picture of the responses of the bees to the external environment. Results show that the winter "brood block" can vary greatly its start, end and duration. During this period, honey stored consumption varied on average between -53 and +6 g/d. In the previous period the average daily consumption varied between 59 and 115 g, while in the following period between 44 and 103 g/d. The effetcs of minimum winter temperature, during two years, showed an ability of the bee colonies to raise the internal temperature by 3.6 and 3.8 °C.
Consumi delle scorte di miele e andamento meteorologico della stagione invernale: prime osservazioni in un apiario del Mugello
Arcidiaco L.Formal Analysis
;Orlandini S.Project Administration
;Sabatini F.Membro del Collaboration Group
;Messeri A.Ultimo
Conceptualization
2023
Abstract
The consumption by bee of honey during the winter season is directly and indirectly influenced by climatic conditions. On the one hand, the air temperature plays a key role in the activity required to maintain the minimum vital temperature, through the formation of winter clusters, on the other it conditions the brood potential at the end of winter and therefore the development of strong colonies during the spring. The analysis of the weight variations of an apiary located in Mugello, during three winter seasons, provided a preliminary picture of the responses of the bees to the external environment. Results show that the winter "brood block" can vary greatly its start, end and duration. During this period, honey stored consumption varied on average between -53 and +6 g/d. In the previous period the average daily consumption varied between 59 and 115 g, while in the following period between 44 and 103 g/d. The effetcs of minimum winter temperature, during two years, showed an ability of the bee colonies to raise the internal temperature by 3.6 and 3.8 °C.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
