January – The bees cluster tightly at the center of the brood chamber around the queen to keep warm. This month, they will consume approximately 25 pounds of stored honey. There is minimal activity, except on warmer days (around 45-50 degrees) when the workers take advantage of the opportunity to perform cleansing flights. Although there are no drones in the hive, some worker brood may still be present. Many bees will perish during the winter, simply due to old age. When bees die in the winter, they fall to the bottom of the hive. In a clustered hive, the deceased bees build up on the bottom board. On warmer days, other bees might carry out their deceased sisters.