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936 days ago

What do Bees do in Winter?

Rod from Hive World Honey

What do bees do in winter?
Without blankets, fires, or adjustable thermostats, honeybees have to stick together pretty closely to stay warm (and alive) in the winter. When temperatures in the winter drop below 10 °C, honeybees retreat to their hives and form a winter cluster to keep warm—sort of like a giant three-month slumber party.
The fate of the hive depends on how sufficiently the winter population has prepared for the cold. To survive and keep warm, the hive must have a robust population of winter-ready bees, plentiful stores of honey to eat, and a secure hive.
A successful winter cluster is made up of a generation of bees with different physiological characteristics from those of the summer population—bees that are a bit more plump to keep up the heat and have a longer lifespan to last the whole winter (4–6 months instead of only a few weeks). The queen will stop laying if food supplies get low to conserve stores.
On warm winter days some bees will venture out in search of winter flowers and pollen. they also leave the hive to poop as the like to keep the hive clean.

Wasps and bumblebees on the other hand all die off except for the queen who will go into hibernation until spring.

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More messages from your neighbours
3 days ago

Poll: Is the increase in disability parking fines fair?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

In October, the fine for parking in a designated mobility car park without a permit has jumped from $150 to $750—a 400% increase!

The goal is to keep these spaces open for those who truly need them. Do you think this big increase in the fine is fair? Share your thoughts below.

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Is the increase in disability parking fines fair?
  • 89.3% Yes, it's fair
    89.3% Complete
  • 9.9% No, it's unreasonable
    9.9% Complete
  • 0.8% Other - I'll share below
    0.8% Complete
2307 votes
1 day ago

Just dough it

The Team from Resene ColorShop Petone

With three basic ingredients and a bit of creativity, you can give old containers new life with Resene testpots.

Find out how to create your own with these easy step by step instructions.

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1 day ago

Do you recognise any of these bikes? 🚲

The Team from Wellington District Police

Wellington Police have recently recovered eight bikes and would like to reunite them with their owners.

If you believe one is yours, head to the Wellington Police Station to retrieve your property. Make sure to bring either a proof of purchase or serial number to prove ownership.

To have a proper look, click on any image to enlarge it.