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Winter Wrapping #816808

Asked November 22, 2022, 3:28 PM EST

Do you recommend wrapping the hives in winter? Historically I have done so, but it seems to me that mite control and food stores are the most important factors to get your bee colonies through winter...I am optimistic I have the mites under control and the hives have enough food...Thus, I was thinking of skipping the time and energy of wrapping...Just wondering what the folks at MSU suggest...

Lapeer County Michigan

Expert Response

Hi David,

Thanks for your question. We don't have an official recommendation on winter configurations. The most important factors to getting honey bee colonies through the winter are that bees are healthy (that the winter bees develop under low pressure from varroa mites and viruses) and that they have enough food. Our experience has shown us that bees can survive cold winters under many different configurations, including wrapping and not wrapping. Oftentimes we don't wrap MSU hives to save on time and money.

I learned wintering from the University of Minnesota Bee Lab (here is its Beekeeping in Northern Climates Second Edition Manual), which taught a system of wrapping hives with covers or tar paper. Bill Hesbach has been advocating for another style of hive called the condensing hive. Dewey Caron writes about these methods here: Ventilating vs. Condensing Winter Colony – Willamette Valley Beekeepers Association (wvbahive.org).

Happy beekeeping!

Ana HeckApiculture Extension EducatorMichigan State University Extension Replied November 22, 2022, 6:01 PM EST

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