Why is there water in a well-protected beehive? A beekeeping expert answers for you

Many people find a lot of water in their beehives, yet the hive is clearly well protected and there has been no rain locally. Where does the water in the beehive come from? Let's see what professional beekeepers have to say!

In fact, this is a problem that many friends new to beekeeping have noticed, and it has also troubled many novice beekeepers. But in reality, experienced beekeepers see water in the hive as a good sign. So why does water appear in a well-protected beehive? Why do experienced beekeepers, seeing water in the hive, not only not worry but actually feel happy? Below is the answer the beekeeping expert gives you.

Water appearing in the hive is a sign that the nectar flow period has arrived

We all know that bees, whether rearing larvae or making honey, do so in a relatively humid environment. If they are only rearing larvae as usual, there is not much water in the hive, and it is not very obvious to us, but during a major nectar flow period this phenomenon becomes very obvious, and the further into the nectar flow period, the more obvious it becomes. So where does this water come from? Why do experienced beekeepers feel happy when they see this phenomenon?

It is actually very simple. This is mainly due to the bees' honey-collecting process. We all know that the water content of newly collected nectar is above 40%. After the bees bring this nectar into the hive, it is processed, and the processing involves spreading this newly collected nectar in the comb cells to cool and dry. Through the handling of the house bees, the water content of this nectar drops from above 40% to below 18%. The 20% of water in between is lost into the hive, and so the phenomenon we see of water in the hive appears.

In fact, the water in the hive is far more than just this little bit. Bees also need water when rearing larvae and building comb, so what we see is not only the water produced by bees making honey, but also the water collected by water-collecting bees. Combined together, the hive looks wet, and water can even be seen flowing out from outside the hive. But this also shows one thing: if we see water being produced quickly in the hive, it means our bees are actively making honey, and the honey harvest is bound to be abundant. So experienced old beekeepers like to see water produced in the hive; this is a sign that the nectar flow period has arrived.

How should water appearing in the hive be handled

So what should we do when we find water in the hive? It is actually very simple. If there is not much water, we can ignore it. If it is too wet, we can prop up the rear of the hive a little higher so that the water flows out from the entrance. The relative humidity inside the hive is inherently rather high.

Some beekeepers suggest drilling holes in the bottom of the hive or placing absorbent paper and the like to reduce the water, but in fact professional beekeepers do not approve of this practice. The reason is that using absorbent paper requires frequent replacement, which creates work, while drilling holes damages the hive, and the drilled holes also easily let in natural enemies harmful to bees. So this method is still not recommended.

When we artificially rear queens, in choosing the environment for transferring larvae we must ensure not only temperature but also humidity. This is simulating the environment inside a hive, so if we can reduce the water content in the hive by strengthening ventilation and slightly tilting the hive, we avoid having to change the paper and damage the hive.

The above is the explanation shared by the editor from professional beekeepers about why there is water in a well-protected beehive. In fact, there is no need to worry when water appears in the hive; the correct way to deal with it should be the methods introduced above. If you have discovered any other reasons causing too much water in the hive, you are welcome to leave a comment and share!