Keeping the hive tidy

Did you know a beehive is one of the most clean and sterile environments in nature?

Honeybees do not go to the bathroom in the hive. Even in the winter months when it’s too cold to go out for days, they will wait until a warmer day and then do a “cleansing flight.”

Honeybees have a very high standard for their living environment and do several things to keep it tidy. The very first thing a new bee does after emerging from her cell is to clean it and get it ready to be used again for a new egg. Some bees have the job of cleaning up the foragers after they come home from a long day of collecting resources.

Bees use propolis, or “bee glue,” to seal any gaps and keep the hive free from debris or intruders. Propolis is something they make and is extremely high in antioxidants providing protection from bacteria. Some people actually use propolis medicinally for its many health benefits including anti-fungal and antiviral properties.

This is a picture of a group of bees cleaning up some honey that spilled out from a frame during a recent hive inspection. Watching them work is so fascinating!