Fat Bees - Skinny Bees

Skinny bees are the standard forgers of summer. They are built for speed and efficiency, not longevity. However, a colony becomes dangerously "skinny" when it lacks nutritional resources during critical times. Pollen is Vital to Honey Bee Health and Survival

: These fat stores allow nurse bees to produce high-quality royal jelly to feed the first generation of spring larvae even before the first flowers bloom. The Perils of the "Skinny Bee" Fat Bees Skinny Bees

Fat Bees vs. Skinny Bees: The Secret to a Survival-Ready Hive Skinny bees are the standard forgers of summer

If you’ve been in beekeeping circles for a while, you’ve likely heard the catchy phrase While it sounds like a children's book title, it actually refers to a cornerstone of honey bee biology and a famous manual on bee nutrition by Doug Somerville . Pollen is Vital to Honey Bee Health and

: While "skinny" summer bees only live about 4–6 weeks, "fat" winter bees (also called diutinus bees) can live up to 6–9 months to see the colony through the cold season.

A "fat bee" isn't just one that ate too much honey. In beekeeping, "fat" refers to the , a vital organ in the bee's abdomen that functions similarly to a human liver.