> Total darkness in the hive does not happen with a open entrance. 

That's silly. Of course it's dark in the brood area, the light doesn't come up through the cluster. 

> The bees are very in tune with when daylight begins and ends.

There is no way they know if the days are starting to get longer by a couple of minutes in December. Even people aren't that perceptive. 

In fact, the presence or absence of light has more to do with whether its cloudy, rainy or snowing, than the exact minute the sun comes up. Especially if there are trees, etc. 

Pete

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