The headlines announce that this Spring Equinox is the warmest since 1972. As a human this seems good news with the threat of a late frost diminishing, lighter evenings and the first blossoms on Blackthorn. For honeybees it is just another day.
Some YouTube beekeepers talk fulsomely of bees welcoming the equinox and longer days with increased activity; but there are no sudden changes caused by increased light. What really affects them is warmth and the appearance of Spring flowers full of pollen and nectar. As the winter bees make foraging flights for the first time in many months the Queen is triggered into laying new brood which will become the new generation of 2025. The old winter bees will straggle back to the hive with their loads of nectar and pollen for a few more weeks and then they will be declared redundant as their places are taken by the new generation. April will see a spectacular increase in the number of bees in each colony and activity in each hive will be positively buzzing.
Have a good Spring!