Bees work to keep their hives at 95 degrees Fahrenheit year-round, according to Angi Schneider. But, when the sun bares down and the temperatures near 100 degrees, bees have to work to cool the hives to stay alive. She offers these recommendations to protect bees from the summer heat:
- Place hives where some afternoon shade will protect the hives
- Paint hives white and use metal outer covers
- Provide watering stations
- Use screened ventilation
Source: Countryside Daily, June 5, 2018. Link.
When bees get too hot, all production stops and the queen stops laying eggs. If you’re doing regular hive inspections and notice that the queen has stopped laying, make sure you can find the queen and she hasn’t died. If she’s there and just not laying, you can assume she’s taking a break because of the heat.