All about lining - for experienced breeders
In this chapter, we will expand on the information about thermal lining, its properties and preparation. We follow up on the Lining , where basic information was provided.
The importance of the lining in the hive and the colony life cycle
Recommended lining material
Less suitable but usable materials
Unsuitable materials
Options for increasing the attractiveness of the hive during settlement:
using old lining
, perfuming with mouse droppings
Introduction
The importance of the lining in the hive and the colony life cycle
We described the places bumblebees seek out to nest in the chapter Life cycle of bumblebees.
You can read more about the places where specific species nest in the chapter <Catalog of bumblebee species in the Czech Republic – WE ARE PREPARING>.
All of these places have one thing in common – bumblebees only nest in cavities where they can find the material they need to build their nest. This is different from bees, which in nature always build their nests in empty cavities.
When building a nest, bumblebees expect it to be cold and therefore need to be thermally protected so that their offspring can develop successfully in the nest. That is why they look for cavities in which there is thermally insulating nesting material – heat-retaining lining .
Interesting fact
- Only a few species of bumblebees that nest on the ground are able to approach and collect nesting material from a short distance (rather than bring it from a greater distance). An example is the field bumblebee (Bombus pascuorum).
- It can nest in a pile of dry grass and moss, which it uses as a lining. It expects that its nest may be damaged by some external influence, and therefore its workers can return the material to the nest and thus cover the nest. Other species cannot even do that.
Bumblebees therefore need a lining to keep their brood (offspring) at the right temperature, which is an absolute necessity for their development. The heat-retaining lining insulates the wax structure of the nest (work) primarily from the cold, but it can also insulate it to some extent from high temperatures. At higher temperatures, physics works - the evaporation of water from the surface of the lining lowers its temperature.
Therefore, the queen mother instinctively builds her nest mostly in the imaginary geometric and "temperature" center of the lining volume, because this is where she spends the least energy to maintain the correct temperature of the brood.
If there is a small volume of lining in the nest (small hive volume or little lining), the nest can experience temperature fluctuations. This is just as bad as hypothermia or overheating of the hive. Hives with good thermal insulation construction provide (together with good lining) an advantage to both the bumblebees and their keeper.
You can read about thermal insulation and hive construction in the chapter<Tepelná izolace úlků – PŘIPRAVUJEME>
Interesting fact:
- The queen bumblebee will sometimes build a nest in the lining at the bottom of the hive if she finds the necessary “thermal comfort” there.
- Check out the interesting work of Jaromír Čížek, who created different temperatures for the bumblebee nest mat in the laboratory and observed what temperature conditions the queen mother chose. You can find the article later<PŘIPRAVUJEME>
- In laboratory breeding, heat-retaining lining is not used at all; the temperature in the bumblebees' room is regulated to ensure optimal development.
As the nest grows, the bumblebees expand the nest cavity, remove material from it, strengthen the ceiling of the nest cavity with wax, etc. As soon as a gap appears in the lining, they immediately cover it and prevent heat from escaping/penetrating. They simply continue to work with the lining as a “duvet”.
Because bumblebees are still working with the nest lining, they prefer a material that they can easily chew through, that does not contain long fibers, and that is soft and delicate. The workers create "curls" from the lining by digging under themselves with their feet, and they can transport the material in this shape both inside and outside the nest.
As they enlarge the nest cavity for the growing work, they bring the lining to the surface of the nest. If there is no more room, they carry it out of the nest and drop it in flight. Sometimes they just roll it out.
Bumblebees transport the lining out of the hive - photo. O. Hercog
Interesting fact
- Sometimes the workers can scoop out so much material that it looks like something out of the fairy tale “The Mug of Boiling Water.” We observed this activity most often at night and in a strong nest of rock bumblebees.
- Sometimes the workers close the entrance hole with a plug . the plug on the day when the hive is busy. They do the same when the nest is weak and it is cold outside.
In some older instructions you will read that it is a good idea to remove the lining in higher temperatures. However, practice shows that this is not a suitable solution and it is better to leave the lining in place to provide protection for the bumblebees and only check that it does not cover the ventilation hole in the hive.
Recommendation
- Do not remove the lining from the nest on warm summer days – it still protects the nest and insulates it
What material to use as a heat-retaining lining in a bumblebee hive?
Different breeders use different materials, the right material must always meet the following parameters:
- The basis is the airiness and fluffiness of the material, where the air acts as insulation, just like in a sleeping bag.
- It must be dry.
- It must not be greasy or moldy.
- It must not contain chemicals, nor be treated with chemicals or washed in them. Therefore, it must not be synthetic fabrics.
- The material must not smell (rot, mold, chemicals, etc.).
- It must not contain long fibers or threads that bumblebees could get entangled in.
- The material must not be poured into the cells in the nest, where it would interfere with the development of the fetus.
- Bumblebees need to chew on the material, so natural materials are suitable.
Interesting fact
- Remember that bumblebees navigate their nest primarily by smell. Any other smell than the nest makes it difficult for them to navigate, which is one of the reasons why they avoid a smelly nest
- The smell of rodents is an attractant only for those species that live in small mammal burrows, so it is not a universal "attractant" for all bumblebees
The most suitable and easily available known material is 100% raw natural cotton . For example, there is a product on the market called Lintran.
It is an ecological filling material made of 100% cotton. Its production purpose is as a filling for soft toys, dolls, pillows, bean bags, etc. or natural litter for small pets. It is harmless, safe and environmentally friendly. It is a Czech product.
Lintran in marketable quality
Although raw cotton is very delicate, it needs to be thoroughly torn into small pieces before use, see # Preparing the lining before use. In any case, there must be no long fibers left in the raw cotton.
We have successfully tested modified sheep fleece . This requires quite a bit of preparation – it must be thoroughly degreased (washed in soap), dried, torn and cut. But then it works wonderfully and is a durable and reusable ecological material.
The fleece should ideally be light in color so that any parasites can be seen and the clean and dirty parts can be distinguished.
You can read about preparing sheepskin in the Sheepskin Lining .
Some beekeepers use moss by placing it on the bottom of the hive in the corners. This is where bumblebees sometimes defecate, and the moss dries out these areas. Moss acts as an antiseptic and prevents the development of mold. However, we would like to point out that forest moss is protected by law. You can therefore use dry moss from your garden, dug up during autumn maintenance, for example. The moss should be free of clay, dust and grass residues. Also, take into account that many invertebrates live in moss.
Moss can also be placed on top of the lining. However, bumblebees will chew (scrape) the moss and if you inspect the nest, pieces of moss will fall into the open cells of the wax structure with nectar and pollen reserves, which is undesirable.
Notice
- If you decide to use moss, please only put it on the top of the lining, but do not use it in the whole nest. Use raw cotton / sheep fleece as the filling. Otherwise, the moss will fall into the cells and the brood in the nest, and that is not good.
- Moss from chemically treated lawns cannot be used because many chemicals work by contact and the substance may remain in the moss.
Examples of less suitable materials:
You can also use recycled fabric, tailor's wadding (e.g. previously commonly used lining or shoulder padding of coats - but beware of naphthalene and nylon substitutes in linings and padding), cut tow, torn cotton insulation strips for water pipes, and cut rag pieces.
However, with these materials, it is necessary to ensure that the material does not contain chemicals, long fibers/threads, and synthetics.
However, obtaining these materials in pure form and quality is much more difficult today than it might seem at first glance. Some sellers will offer you such material for purchase, or as part of the hive delivery. However, the quality of this material is variable and cannot be used without modification. So do not rely on the product name alone, but rather check the quality.
Examples of unsuitable materials:
We do not recommend adding clay, sand, shavings and sawdust. Such material would be poured into the work (into the open wax cells). We can sometimes read about this in various advice centers, but it is outdated. In addition, the material does not meet the basic condition of good thermal insulation.
Likewise, horsehair, sheephair, dog hair, and similar hair are not suitable. Such material turns into stiff spikes after cutting and is harmful to bumblebees – we tested it. Bumblebees cannot process such material into curls and work with it (see previous text).
Horsehair unsuitable material
source internet
PHOTO HAMMER – horsehair
Another disadvantage of these materials is the fact that along with the fur, you often bring moths and insects that feed on the remains of skin and fur into the hive. These animals do not pose any threat to the bumblebees, but the nerves of the keeper are at risk - you are then faced with the question of determining the type of parasite or its larva and whether it is a parasite or just a hive roommate... You can read about roommates in bumblebee nests.
Pure cotton wool is also not suitable - these are just dangerous fibers. Cotton wool would have to be very carefully cut and prepared like Lintran if no other material was available.
Grass and hay are also not suitable. We have found that this leads to the development of mold, which grass carries with it. Paper is also not suitable, especially printed paper - it contains printer's ink and is also easily susceptible to mold.
We should also not use any synthetic materials. Bumblebees work hard to process, tear, and chew the lining when building their nest, which does not work well with artificial materials.
Do not use glass wool, even though bumblebees sometimes nest in it. Wood wool, blankets, or furry leather are not suitable. Such materials would make it impossible for you to perform the inspection.
PHOTO RECYCLED FABRIC
Options for increasing the attractiveness of the hive during settlement
Lining from last year's nest
If you have saved the old lining or received it from another beekeeper (bumblebee farmer), you can place it in the nest so that the young queen mother can feel it at the end of the entrance passage or in the center of the nest.
Interesting fact
- A mother bee looking for a nesting site responds to scent. Her instinct tells her that if a bumblebee has already nested in the hive, it is a good place.
- Queens of stronger species sometimes prefer such places and will push or eliminate (kill) queens of weaker species from the nest. For them, the fragrant lining is a good attractant and guide to nesting.
But the lining must be clean and free of parasites! It needs to be sanitized = let heat pass through it.
For sanitation, select only clean parts of the used lining. These should not be parts soiled by bumblebees, with parts of the waxwork, with parts of the wax ceiling of the nest cavity, parts affected by mold, parts with a significant amount of moss, and parts that smell different from the nest's smell.
Be careful not to burn or scorch the lining, so follow the recommended procedure for sanitizing the lining.
Temperatures above 60°C are necessary to destroy any germs or parasite larvae. However, all the lining in its entire volume must pass through this temperature. However, it is always necessary that the lining is put into the hive clean, dry and fluffy.
Temperatures above 100°C can also destroy pathogens (bacteria/viruses), which are the causative agents of some diseases affecting bumblebees ( nosema , viral wing deformation , etc.)
A microwave oven is good for sanitation , where you can repeatedly heat the lining.
Put the liner in an open bowl, do not put it in a closed bag. Sanitize the liner in sections .
Do not rush and heat the material gradually. Try to find a power that heats the material but does not burn it.
Microwave radiation heats the parts containing water. This primarily heats the larvae and pupae of parasites, overwintering pupae, cocoons, mites, etc.
Use a power level that heats the material to the desired temperature for 1.5 - 2 minutes.
Take breaks during heating , when you remove the MW oven - the moisture will leave the lining and you will make sure that it does not burn.
Some breeders boil the lining or bake it in the oven at temperatures above 100 °C. The disadvantage of this procedure is the possible loss of the scent trace and, depending on the material, its structure or consistency may change.
Warning - there is a risk of fire when sanitizing in a microwave, electric or gas oven. Therefore, be extremely careful and pay attention to safety!
Recommendation
- The lining must be sanitized immediately after the end of the season and then before reuse.
- If you don't have your own lining, only use lining from a breeder you trust, but even then it's better to re-sanitize it.
- Do not buy old lining and similarly scented parts of the hive - the seller may not always be an honest breeder, the risk of financial motivation here outweighs the benefit.
- Ensure thorough sanitation to reduce the risk of transmitting diseases or parasites to the nest.
- Unless you are sure that it is a clean lining and well sanitized, don't take the risk and eat it.
Last year's lining - sanitation in the MW oven, too intense heating...
Photo - the author at the request of his wife and for the sake of domestic peace, we do not publish it...
Perfume the lining with mouse droppings
Some older instructions describe the use of mouse nests and shavings. Yes – the smell of mouse nests can stimulate some species of bumblebees (e.g. ground bumblebees) to nest. This material should not be mixed into the lining and is therefore not recommended for addition to the hive.
Bumblebees are attracted to this smell, but if there are sawdust with mouse urine and droppings in the nest, it is not very suitable. This material will soon succumb to mold and its use is only for the settling phase. In the next phase, this mixture becomes just waste in the nest, which the bumblebees cannot use. Therefore, we do not recommend this practice.
Recommendation
- If you want to use the smell of rodents as an attractant, you can have the lining perfumed in advance so that it does not become contaminated with mouse droppings.
- Example of indirect perfumery: Place an open container of mouse lining in a large bag with lining, close the bag and leave the lining to smell for some time in a dry place. Then we put only the lining in the hive.
Adjusting the lining before use
Before use, the lining must be thoroughly torn into small pieces. Tear the material into tufts to make it fluffy and homogeneous. Remove clumps and hard pieces from it. Remove hard pieces and dirt from the material.
Take a special look at the old bedding. Even after cleaning, it may still contain parasite pellets, dirt, and mold. It may also contain larger pieces of moss or shavings if you have used it before.
It is very good to first shred the material, then cut it into approx. 1cm pieces and fluff it again to make it homogeneous. Do not squeeze the lining, leave it airy and fluffy.
Notice
Under no circumstances should long fibers remain in the lining.
Storage
If you are not going to use the liner right away, store it in a dry place so that it does not get damp and moldy.
A paper box or paper bag is best for storage. If you are storing the liner in a plastic bag, it should be open and perforated so that the liner can ventilate.
Summary
- The lining, its properties, quality and preparation are one of the fundamental pillars of success for a bumblebee breeder = it cannot be underestimated.
- It is better to use larger hives with more lining than the other way around.
- Do not use long-fiber lining in the nest, which bumblebees could get tangled in.
- The lining must be soft so that the bumblebees can process it.
- Be careful with a used liner.
- Store the liner in a cool, dry place before use.
- Don't forget to create an entry pocket in the lining.
- Do not put the liner in the hive until spring before use so that the queen mother can accept it.
For instructions on how to fill the cavity with padding, see the chapter