Indoor storage of honey bee colonies
​for winter is not a new idea, but it is rapidly becoming a more widely-used practice, with many potential benefits to explore.

This Guide to the Indoor Storage of Honey Bee Colonies in the United States was developed and created as a part of the Healthy Hives 2020 Initiative to provide an overview of best practices and scientific information for beekeepers who store their colonies indoors or want to learn more about this management option.  ​
View or Download the 2nd Edition of the Indoor Storage Guide HERE
​or navigate the ​online resource below: 

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

INTRODUCTION
 Brandon Hopkins

HANDLING AND PREPARATION OF COLONIES STORED INDOORS:  THE "INS" AND "OUTS"
 Brandon Hopkins

TYPES OF INDOOR BEE STORAGES AND GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
 Anthony Molitor

MODULAR COLD STORAGE
 Chelsea Cook & Kimberly Drennan

THE ECONOMICS OF HONEY BEE MANAGEMENT AND OVERWINTERING STRATEGIES FOR COLONIES USED TO POLLINATE ALMONDS 
Gloria DeGrandi-Hoffman, et al.

  DEMOGRAPHICS OF INDOOR STORAGE 
            Kelly Kulhanek, Brandon Hopkins, and Gregory Shved

WINTERING STRATEGIES FOR THE BACKYARD BEEKEEPER
Kelly Kulhanek

POTENTIAL FOR VARROA CONTROL IN COLD STORAGE: 
A REVIEW
Kelly Kulhanek

BEEKEEPER Q & A
A composition of questions and advice from highly respected and successful commercial beekeepers

CDFA PRE-INSPECTION PROGRAM
Kelly Kulhanek
​
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

REFERENCES AND RELATED LITERATURE

Contact Us

Video:

 Ashurst Bee Company Indoor Storage Facility Part 2: Buildings
Ashurst Bee Company Indoor Storage Facility Part 1:
Preparing Bees for Indoor Storage
During and After Storing Bees Indoors
Putting Bees into Storage
Tour of Buildings & HVAC Systems

Contact Us

INTRODUCTION

BY DR. BRANDON HOPKINS
Beekeeping is uniquely challenging profession; one that seems to only grow in difficulty as agriculture and land use continues to change to serve a growing human population. The introduction of Tracheal mites, Nosema, and the notorious Varroa mite (+ viruses) have only amplified the struggle. One of the earliest records of storing colonies indoors is a letter from a beekeeper describing annual winter losses of 30% of his colonies...

CONTINUE READING

HANDLING AND PREPARATION OF COLONIES STORED INDOORS:  THE "INS" AND "OUTS"

BY DR. BRANDON HOPKINS
While this publication is intended to provide some information on storage conditions and information on the buildings used for storing bees; that information and management is relatively very simple compared to the months of work preparing colonies before placing the hives in a building​...
​
CONTINUE READING

TYPES OF INDOOR BEE STORAGES
AND GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

BY: ANTHONY MOLITOR 
Bee storages can take on many different forms. In the Treasure Valley of western Idaho and eastern Oregon, beekeepers have used everything from existing bulk potato storages, old onion crate storages, cinderblock buildings, or any structure where forced air can be introduced to the hives. Thus far, there is no right or wrong answer to which style of building is best...

CONTINUE READING..

MODULAR COLD STORAGE

BY: CHELSEA COOK & KIMBERLY DRENNAN
To meet the specific needs of beekeepers while optimizing the health, security, and comfort of their honey bees during difficult times of the year, there are modular cold storage options available. Modular cold storage solutions put beekeepers in control; they are an option for beekeepers who want to avoid the stress of transportation or risk of large cold storage facilities.​

CONTINUE READING

THE ECONOMICS OF HONEY BEE MANAGEMENT 
​And Overwintering Strategies for Colonies Used to Pollinate Almonds

BY: GLORIA DEGRANDI-HOFFMAN, ET AL. 
Commercial honey bee colonies are an integral part of agricultural production in the U.S. Each year, hives are moved across the country to pollinate crops that generate billions of dollars to the agricultural economy.

CONTINUE READING

DEMOGRAPHICS OF INDOOR STORAGE

BY: KELLY KULHANEK, BRANDON HOPKINS, AND GREGORY SHVED 
The popularity of indoor storage is rapidly growing among US commercial beekeepers. As recently as the last 2-3 years, more beekeepers have adopted indoor storage as an overwintering strategy.

CONTINUE READING

WINTERING STRATEGIES FOR
​THE BACKYARD BEEKEEPER

BY: KELLY KULHANEK
As indoor wintering of colonies becomes increasingly popular among commercial beekeepers, smaller beekeepers have naturally become curious about what benefits indoor storage may provide them.
​
CONTINUE READING

POTENTIAL FOR VARROA CONTROL IN COLD STORAGE: A REVIEW

BY: KELLY KULHANEK
One area that has the potential to maximize the benefits of indoor storage is Varroa control...
​
CONTINUE READING

BEEKEEPER Q & A

A composition of questions and advice from highly respected and successful commercial beekeepers
​
CONTINUE READING

CDFA PRE-INSPECTION PROGRAM

BY: KELLY KULHANEK
As trucks approach a California border station, they have to pull over to have their loads inspected for invasive species the state of California wants to keep out. The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) began a new program in 2018 designed to make the trip a little smoother...
​
CONTINUE READING

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS​
Special thanks to the Healthy Hives 2020 and Project Apis m. groups for supporting the creation of this booklet. Special thanks to Danielle Downey for developing the concept for this publication and editorial improvements; and to Drs. Steve Sheppard and Daniel Schmehl for their valuable input. Thanks also, to the beekeepers who contributed pictures and most of the good pieces of wisdom and advice contained within (John Miller, Tim Hiatt, Nick Noyes, Ryan Thomas, Eric Olson, Larry Johnson, Ryan Razee, Joel Smith, Scott Razee, Keegan Fluke, and Scott Hamilton). Photographs by Sharah Yaddaw, John Miller, and Scott Hathaway.  Special thanks to Browning’s Honey Company for letting us tour, photograph, and film.  Publication and Web Design by Sharah Yaddaw/Project Apis m.

REFERENCES AND RELATED LITERATURE​
Bahreini, R. and Currie, R. 2015. The potential of bee-generated carbon dioxide for control of varroa mite (Mesostigmata: Varroidae) in indoor overwintering honey bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) colonies. J Econ. Entomol 108(5): 2153-2167 [LINK]

Doolittle, G.M. 1902. Wintering Bees – Indoor and Chaff Hives. American Bee Journal Jan 16: pg37 [LINK]

Gooderham, C.B. 1926. Wintering bees in Canada Dominion of Canada Department of Agriculture. Bulletin no. 74 [LINK]

Jay, S.C. and Harris, L. 1979. Loss and drifting of honeybees from hives moved outside after indoor wintering. J. of Apiculture Research 18(1) 52-56 [LINK]

Kozak, P. R., and R. W. Currie. 2011. Laboratory study on the effects of temperature and three ventilation rates on infestations of Varroa destructor in clusters of honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 104: 1774-1782. [LINK]

McCutcheon, D.M. 1984 Indoor Wintering of Hives. Bee World 65(1): 19-37 [LINK]

National Honey Market News. USDA. Agricultural Marketing Services. Monthly Report. Jan 1986 vol 2 (2) pg 8

Nelson, D.L. and G.D. Henn (1977). Indoor Wintering – Research Highlights. Research Station Beaverlodge, Agriculture Canada. Canadian Beekeeper 7:7-12 [LINK]

Nelson, D.L. (1982). Indoor Over-Wintering – Outline of Basic Requirements. Research Station Beaverlodge, Agriculture Canada. NRG Pub no. 82-1  [LINK]

Seeley, T. D. 1974. Atmospheric carbon dioxide regulation in honey-bee (Apis mellifera) colonies. J. Insect Physiol. 20: 2301-2305. [LINK]

Szabo, T.I. (1975) Comb building after the honey flow. American Bee Journal. Vol 115 (8) 306-307 (322).

Szabo, T. I., and D. L. Nelson. 1981. Beekeeping in western Canada. Information Services, Agriculture Canada. Publication 1542.

Underwood, R.M. and Currie, R.W. 2004 Indoor Winter Fumigation of Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Colonies Infested with Varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae) with Formic Acid Is a Potential Control Alternative in Northern Climates. J of Econ Entomol 97(2): 177-186 [LINK]

​Van Nerum, K., and H. Buelens. 1997. Hypoxia-controlled winter metabolism in honeybees (Apis mellifera). Compar. Biochem. Phys. A 117: 445-455. [LINK]