Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: mtnb on November 09, 2015, 01:33:53 PM

Title: Winter Fur?
Post by: mtnb on November 09, 2015, 01:33:53 PM
It seems to me that since about the past week when I've looked at my bees, their fur seems somehow longer and thicker. Do they grow a winter fur like other animals?
Title: Re: Winter Fur?
Post by: Michael Bush on November 09, 2015, 02:24:27 PM
No.  They emerge fuzzy and the fuzz wears off and never grows back.  Bee that have been emerged for a few days are larger than just emerged.  Bees that have been foraging are larger than bees that are not foraging.  Their abdomen can vary in size depending on age and on how full it is of nectar.
Title: Re: Winter Fur?
Post by: mtnb on November 09, 2015, 02:31:07 PM
Makes sense. Thank you Mr. Bush. These bees must be just very new bees then because they are very tiny. I have seen some of those older larger bees too. Some with HUGE lower abdomens. lol so fun thanks