What benefit does facing hives southeast provide with respect to bees?

Facing hives southeast is beneficial because it allows bees to start foraging earlier in the day. This orientation helps the hives catch the morning sun more quickly, which warms them up sooner. As bees are ectothermic (cold-blooded), they are more active and able to start foraging when the temperature is conducive to their activity. The earlier start means they can take advantage of the morning’s floral resources, increasing their foraging efficiency and overall productivity throughout the day.

Other choices, while they may present valid concerns in beekeeping, do not hold the same direct connection to the southeast orientation of hives. For example, while reducing swarming can be influenced by various environmental factors and management practices, simply facing the hive in a particular direction does not directly address swarming behaviors. Similarly, honey production is influenced by multiple factors including forage availability and hive health, rather than just the orientation of the hive. Drone activity is also managed through hive management practices rather than simply the direction in which the hive faces. Thus, the primary benefit for orientation is in promoting earlier foraging through exposure to sunlight.