As winter approaches, homeowners may notice bees entering their house This strange sight often alarms new beekeepers and non-beekeepers alike. But there’s no need to panic Bees in the house during winter are usually just looking for warmth and will not sting unless provoked. With a few simple tweaks, you can prevent bees from infiltrating your home and safely redirect them outdoors.
Why Bees Come Indoors in Winter
Bees need to maintain a temperature of at least 57°F to survive. As temperatures drop outdoors bees go into cluster mode vibrating their wing muscles to generate heat. But this takes a massive amount of energy. If the cold persists, bees consume their winter food stores quickly.
Once food runs low, some worker bees will leave the hive in search of new nourishment. But flowers are scarce in winter, so the bees seek out the next best heat source: your home.
Bees sense warm air leaking from small cracks and crevices. They follow these drafts through gaps around windows, doors, vents, and holes in your siding. Certain areas like attics and basements are especially enticing to bees in winter. Once indoors, the confused bees are drawn to light and windows. They buzz against the glass in an attempt to get back outside.
Keeping Bees Out of Your House
Fortunately, there are several ways to discourage bees from entering in the first place:
Seal Up Access Points
Carefully check your home exterior and seal any small openings with caulk, foam, or weather stripping. Pay special attention to areas where different building materials meet, like corners and joints. Make sure doors and windows close tightly. Screen vents, chimneys, and roof turbines prevent bees from getting inside.
Manage Nearby Beehives
If you or a neighbor have beehives on the property, properly maintain them throughout winter. Ensure the hive has adequate food stores – at least 30 pounds of honey for smaller colonies. Windbreaks, insulation, and ventilation will also help the bees regulate temperatures. Place hives in sunny spots sheltered from cold winter winds.
Install Exclusion Devices
Hardware cloth or wire mesh over vents keeps bees out while permitting airflow. Plastic screening also works for gutters, chimneys, and roof vents. Make sure the mesh holes are no larger than 1/8 inch so bees cannot squeeze through. Proper screening keeps bees outside but allows them to leave if they do get in.
Weatherize Windows and Doors
Bees go right for windows because they can see the daylight. Ensure windows shut tightly and seal any gaps with caulk or weatherstripping. Make sure door sweeps fit snugly against thresholds. Consider installing storm windows for an added layer of insulation and protection. Close off fireplace dampers when not in use.
Use Positive Ventilation
Proper attic and crawl space ventilation equalizes indoor and outdoor temperatures. Power attic fans, ridge vents, and soffit vents prevent warm, moist air from accumulating and leaking through cracks. Cool a ventilated attic to outdoor ambient temperatures, removing the heat bees target.
Install Light Traps
LED light traps draw bees in with ultraviolet light. Once inside, bees check out the window and follow a funnel into an attached collection bin. The bees remain unharmed until you release them outdoors. Traps near entrances give bees an opportunity to leave before ever entering your home.
What to Do About Bees Already Indoors
If you spot bees inside your home, remain calm. Here’s how to safely remove them:
Open a Window
Bees naturally fly toward sunlight. Opening a window near the bees allows an escape route. They will eventually find the light and exit on their own. Avoid swatting or spraying, which will only agitate them.
Create a Bee Vacuum
Make a DIY bee vacuum with a soda bottle, hose, and vacuum cleaner. Suck up bees gently and release them outside. Never vacuum up bees directly as this can damage them. Add a soft cotton ball as a barrier between the bees and vacuum.
Use a Bee Brush
A bee brush has ultra-soft bristles that safely guide bees into a container for transport. Gently brush bees off walls or windowsills and into a jar. Cover with a lid and release the bees outdoors away from doors or windows.
Call a Professional
For large infestations, contact a local beekeeper to humanely remove the bees. They have the proper tools and experience to evacuate bees without harming your home. Never spray bee swarms with insecticides or attempt to kill them with other methods.
Preventing Future Bee Invasions
Blocking entrance points is key to keeping bees from coming inside again. Thoroughly seal any discovered holes after removing the bees. Continue monitoring for new access spots. Manage nearby beehives properly so colonies stay put. Consider window screen enclosures for exterior vents if bees persist.
With preparation and vigilance, you can discourage bees from entering your home this winter. A few simple precautions will send the right message: no vacancies! Your home will stay pest-free without harming local bee populations already under stress. Implement these tips for a bee-free winter.
What Do Honeybees Do in Winter?
FAQ
What does it mean to find bees in your house?
How to find where bees are coming from in your house?
Why are there bees in my house in winter?
Why are bees suddenly coming in my house?
Do bees die in winter?
During the winter, the bees have one goal; protecting the queen until spring. They will do whatever it takes to reach this goal, even if it means they die in the process. Once temperatures reach about 55 degrees, the bees will begin to cluster around the queen. The colder the temperatures get the tighter the cluster will become.
Do bees hibernate in winter?
They will typically wait until the external temperature exceeds 50F, when they will leave the hive to defecate before returning to the cluster once more. Bees do not hibernate during the winter months. The male drones die off while the female bees are left to ensure the survival of the colony.
How to keep bees in the winter?
When considering how to keep bees in the winter, location is key. To help with keeping bees warm in winter, move your hives to a warmer spot that has low foot traffic and plenty of sunlight. This not only helps them stay cozy but also reduces stress from human disturbance.
Can a beekeeper help hives survive the winter?
However, for domestic bees, it’s a good idea to give the bees a bit of extra help to survive the winter, especially if you are bee farming in areas that have severe winters. The things that a beekeeper does to help the hives survive the winter will differ depending on what kind of hives are used; Langstroth, Warre or Kenyan top bar.
How do bees survive a winter hive?
Their ability to adapt and endure harsh conditions is a testament to their resilience and resourcefulness. When temperatures drop, bees form a tight cluster within the hive to generate and conserve heat. Known as the “winter cluster,” this formation is crucial for the colony’s survival.
Can bees live in a hive if it’s cold?
In the dead of winter, the bees in your hives might need a little help maintaining 96°F if you live in an extremely cold climate. Snow is a great insulator, so there is no need to clear the snow from the top of the hives. However, you will need to make sure that entry to the hive is always clear of snow so you don’t trap the bees inside.