Abstract:

This study investigates the impact of high-frequency climate risk, specifically temperature volatility, on honey bee production. Recognizing the crucial role of honey bees as environmental sentinels and their sensitivity to climatic variables, the research extends beyond conventional analyses of long-term average temperatures to explore the effects of short-term temperature "surprises." Using high-frequency, irregularly spaced data from thousands of Italian beehives (2019-2024), combined with external temperature data, a non-parametric estimation of weekly integrated volatility is provided. The results highlight that beehives in areas with lower biodiversity and higher pollution are more susceptible to high-frequency temperature volatility, whereas those in richer, cleaner environments show greater resilience. This underscores the critical importance of local environmental quality in mediating the impacts of climate risk on honey bee health and production.