Fast translate from the book which I used in my beekeeping learning ( and still use). This doesn't have to be A priori the truth and only truth so help..
Quote from the book " Beekeeping with Langstroth and Alberti Znidersic hive - from beekeeping practice" by Stjepan Majsec:
Winter bees
The name itself says that are bees which will overwinter and in spring assure reproduction in bee colony.
Winter bees are so important for strength and existence of bee colony that it isn’t by accident that are these mentioned on more places in this book, during different operations at he apiary. Never disregard their role cause that way you will save a lot of spent wasted time and the money due lost profit. Always bear in mind that only strong bee colony brings benefit at the apiary, while the weak ones are only burden, demand a lot of work and create the loss.
Of summer bees, winter bees are distinguished not only by that they will survive up to 8 months, also in the quality. In their tissue they have more dry matter, what is exceptionally crucial for living during winter ( easier tolerate cold or simplified said, more resistant to freezing). Due to higher pollen feed and increased feed during development, in bodies of such bees is forming fatty protein tissue, “ fat”. That enables them that first winter brood they grow without pollen. Further, that means that bees shouldn’t be kept busy ( or at least in higher intensity) on larvae feeding, especially that up to three days old, in that way they will spare their mammary glands. The rest of glands ( wax glands, salivary glands) have to remain inactive, cause their usage would weaken bee oraganism, and that way shorten their life. Therefore, they shouldn’t work on transforming of sugar syrup during additional feeding, nor build the comb and cap the cells with winter food.
According to researches, 70-85% of these bees, emerged in August and September live up to spring, many even till the end of April. For a difference of summer bees, which live 5-6 weeks, winter bees should live even up to 8 months. In that way prolongued lifespan enable them, beside some stronger structure, just sparing from works which would exhaust them, and about we talked. Beside that they are of some stronger structure, they are some heavier than summer bees.
To insure enough of winter bees, at the end of August in langstroth hive there should be 5-6 frames of brood. That amount of brood in that time, with the bees emerged during August and the ones which will emerge in September, and even some in October, will represent the bee colony capable for overwintering, and that is between 20000 till 30000 bees. "
I hope some mistakes I made in translation aren't significant.. Apologies in advance..
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