Temperature-driven influence on overwintering performance of honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies in South Korea

Abstract Honey bee ( Apis mellifera ) colonies are increasingly exposed to climatic instability and landscape changes, posing significant threats to their overwintering success. This study examined how winter temperature variability and landscape composition influence overwintering outcomes in managed colonies across 40 apiaries in South Korea during the winter of 2024–2025. The average overwintering success rate was 69.1%, and colonies experienced a 41.3% decline in strength. While mean winter temperature did not significantly affect survival or strength, increased temperature variability showed a marginally negative association with overwintering success. Landscapes with greater proportions of crops and wetlands within a 2-km radius exhibited weak positive trends toward improved colony survival. Additionally, interaction analyses suggested that the ecological role of landscape features may depend on the degree of temperature stability. These findings underscore the importance of stable winter conditions and autumn floral resource availability for honey bee survival, highlighting the need for region-specific management strategies to enhance colony resilience under ongoing climate change.