Bees at winter rest
How Bees Prepare for Winter Rest and Natural Varroa Treatment
With the arrival of autumn, the bees at Podere Il Casale enter a crucial phase of their cycle: preparing for their winter rest.
Shorter days and cooler temperatures reduce nectar gathering activity, and the colony begins to concentrate inside the hive, where an essential process starts to help them face the cold season.
Why Controlling Varroa Is Essential for Bee Health
Between late October and early November, we carried out the annual treatment against Varroa destructor, one of the most harmful parasites for honeybees.
Varroa weakens bees by feeding on adult individuals and especially on brood, compromising the strength of the colony and putting its winter survival at risk.
For this reason, controlling varroa is considered one of the most important practices in all forms of beekeeping, especially in the natural beekeeping approach that characterizes our work on the farm.
Our Natural Treatment: Garlic and Eucalyptus for Healthier Hives
In line with our philosophy, we chose a natural treatment that respects the balance of the hive:
- garlic decoction, known for its repellent and cleansing properties;
- eucalyptus essential oil, useful for sanitizing the hive environment and creating conditions unfavorable to the parasite’s proliferation.
This combination helps prevent varroa damage without stressing the bees and without compromising honey quality or the wellbeing of the colony.
What Do Bees Do in Winter? The Silent Work Inside the Hive
Now that the hives are ready, the bees spend most of their time inside.
Despite the apparent quiet, they perform essential tasks for the survival of the colony:
- maintaining the hive’s internal temperature, especially around the queen;
- repairing and cleaning the cells;
- organizing and managing their stored honey reserves;
- reducing energy consumption to conserve resources until spring.
It is a period of great cooperation and delicacy, during which the colony focuses on protecting the group.
Natural Beekeeping at Podere Il Casale
The care of our bees has always followed an approach that respects their biological rhythms and the surrounding environment. Monitoring hive health, choosing natural treatments, and observing seasonal changes with attention are part of our daily commitment.
Bees are a precious element of our farm’s ecosystem, and we accompany each phase of their cycle — even the quietest winter months — with gratitude and responsibility.
