site.btaUnusually Warm Weather Poses Danger to Beehives, Beekeeper Association Warns

The unusually warm weather tricks bees into flying out of the hives during the winter months, Nadezhda Miteva, secretary of the Rhodope Beekeepers' Association, told BTA. According to her, Rhodope beekeepers are prepared for such climatic anomalies, which are increasingly becoming the new normal. However, a sharp drop in temperatures could lead to the death of brood and bees, posing a serious risk to the development of bee colonies.

Because of the warm weather, bee families do not form the usual winter cluster, Miteva explained. This results in more energy loss for the hive, requiring beekeepers to feed the bees more often. 

Not only do honeybees fly out of the hives in warm February to search for flowers, but earlier brood formation is also observed. A possible drastic drop in temperatures would lead to the death of the new generation in the hives. The consequences of the climate anomalies will become clear in spring when the number of surviving bee families is counted, Miteva noted. 

According to information from the local beekeepers' association, honey producers in the region of Smolyan (Southern Bulgaria) are not affected by the drop in prices of bee products, because they rely on direct sales. Rhodope honey remains in demand for its quality.