Summer Solstice and "Fat Bodies" in Bees

Beekeepers be aware, this has been very swarmy weather, the bees are in the June Gap - it was 3 weeks early. Tomorrow is the Summer Solstice and the Queens will be slowing down laying after Mid Summer's Day - until the Autumn when they will start laying Winter Bees - Winter Bees live longer due to the "Fat Bodies". Your bees will need to build up stores of Pollen and Nectar. So Leave your bees sufficient stores for winter!!

Fat bodies in Bees

Insects (which includes Bees) have "Fat Bodies" - No they are not overweight. This is tissue that stores up lipids, glycogen, triglycerides, and some protein. Basically they have more Fat Cells in the tissues around their abdomen.

In the Spring and Summer Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) normally live about 4 to 6 weeks. These Bees have a small number of "Fat Bodies". Winter Bees however, have a larger number of "Fat Bodies" to allow them to live through the winter and still care for the new young in the late winter early spring when the Queen starts to build up laying for the new season.