On 31-Oct-15, at 12:15 PM, Peter Edwards wrote:

>> there is a sweet spot where a reasonably large cluster can maintain  
>> appropriate cluster heat at a minimal energetic cost.
>
> I seem to recall that 18,000 bees going into winter was the optimum.
>

Hi Peter and All

During oxalic drizzle treatment late in November I have found that if  
a hive has less than 5 seams(space between frames) occupied by bees in  
cluster,  the colony will not survive the winter.  Last year was the  
coldest winter remembered here and only colonies with 6 or more seams  
of bees, at oxalic time, survived.  How does Peter's 18,000 relate to  
my 5 seams?

Bob Darrell
Caledon Ontario
Canada
44N80W (almost Canada's banana belt)

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