Prolonged heat and drought are causing problems not only for people but also for bees

Prolonged heat and drought are causing problems not only for people but also for bees. The main issues are the lack of water and pollen, which are essential for bees. Marko Alauf, vice president of the Slovenian Beekeepers' Association, highlights these shortages as serious threats to bee colony development in the coming months.

Alauf explains that when temperatures rise above 35°C, bees must intensively ventilate the hive. A single bee colony requires about half a liter of water daily for cooling. Bees that normally collect pollen must shift to gathering water. Inside the hive, worker bees store water droplets in cells and spread them to cool the hive's interior. Water is also vital for larval development.