Infrared Winter Hive Check
The bees are doing well this winter! I am always looking for ways to ensure that my hives are healthy and thriving. One challenge that I face, especially during the winter months, is checking on the bees without disturbing their delicate balance. That’s where my FLIR ONE infrared camera comes in handy.
The FLIR ONE camera is an attachment for my iPhone that allows me to see the bees in the hive, even in the middle of winter. By using the camera’s infrared technology, I can detect the heat signature of the bee cluster and get an accurate reading of the temperature inside the hive.
One of the things that I look for when using the camera is the position of the bee cluster. In the winter, bees will cluster together to stay warm, and their position in the hive can tell me a lot about their health. If the bees are still lower in the hive, it means that they still have food. Bees move up in the spring as they eat, so if they are too high up too soon, it may be an indication that they are out of food.
By combining the information I gather from the camera with the weight of the hive, I can get a good idea of the bees' health and whether they have enough food to make it through the winter. This mid-winter checkup is crucial for ensuring that the bees are healthy and ready to thrive come spring.
The FLIR ONE infrared camera has been an invaluable tool for me as a beekeeper. It allows me to check on the health of my hives without disturbing the bees and gives me important information about their food stores and overall well-being. I highly recommend this camera to any beekeeper looking for a non-invasive way to monitor their hives in the winter months.
