As winter truly begins, each day becomes cold and rainy. This weather is particularly challenging for the bees in New Zealand.  They, being a female-dominated group, are especially sensitive to humidity and drops in temperature. They cannot even go outside  to gather nectar and pollen. However, the rainy season here differs somewhat from Japan’s rainy season. Instead of constant, all-day rain,  it often alternates between rain and clear skies every hour. When it starts raining, it can pour heavily, accompanied by strong winds, but  once the rain clouds pass, the sun shines as if nothing had happened, creating this cycle.

When the rain stops, the bees fly out of the hive, and as it begins to rain again, they return to the hive. Some manage to come  back with their legs packed full of pollen in a remarkably short time. It’s truly impressive to see how they find flowers in such weather. In this way, they gather nectar and pollen whenever the opportunity arises. Since their work is so quick, there must be nearby flowers,  likely wildflowers. At this time of year, food sources are scarce, leading the queen bee to reduce her egg-laying. If there isn’t enough food,  increasing the population wouldn’t be sustainable. However, this doesn’t mean she stops laying eggs entirely; it’s crucial to nurture the  next generation that will be active come spring. Maintaining a temperature of about 35°C is essential for the development of the young bees.

The bees obtain energy by consuming stored honey, and they also vibrate their wings in a way that isn’t for flying but rather to activate their  muscles and generate heat. While stored honey is essential as food, it also plays a crucial role in creating a nurturing environment for  raising their young. This energy source allows them to convert glucose from the honey into heat. In Japan, there is a native species known as the Japanese honeybee.

Although they are not present in this region, Japanese honeybees can generate heat up to 40°C. This ability is crucial for their defense against  predators like hornets. When a hornet invades their hive, Japanese honeybees will swarm around it, using their collective body heat to  raise the temperature and effectively kill the intruder. In contrast, Western honeybees do not have the same capacity to generate such  high temperatures. Their primary functions for heat generation include evaporating the moisture from the collected nectar and providing warmth for raising their young.