The Chinese wax bee (Apis cerana cerana F.) can survive outdoors during winter

The Chinese wax bee (Apis cerana cerana F.) can survive outdoors during winter. In an experimental apiary, hives containing A. c. cerana were left outside with minimal insulation (under the lid and within the hive) near a house. At the Cedar Pad Reserve near Romashka, bees wintered outdoors for several years, receiving slight insulation from straw mats in late autumn (late October to early November). In the Botanical Garden near Vladivostok, an A. c. cerana colony survived without any insulation. Before winter, bees form a winter cluster, a crucial biological adaptation that helps colonies endure harsh winter conditions. This cluster regulates temperature between 20 and 30°C, conserving food supplies and ensuring necessary gas exchange. As external temperatures drop, the cluster tightens, improving heat retention and reducing food consumption.