In October, although the garden appears empty, bees are quietly preparing for winter

In October, although the garden appears empty, bees are quietly preparing for winter. An overly thorough autumn cleanup can destroy their shelters, but a few simple actions can protect them.

Most of the approximately 1,000 bee species in France are solitary wild bees. Adults often die by late summer, leaving larvae or fertilized young females hidden in nests in soil, hollow stems, wood, or leaf layers. Young bumblebee queens hide under litter, while Apis mellifera clusters inside the hive at 10 °C.