> Has anybody tried to wake them up earlier using light?

Flying earlier is only useful if there is something to bring back, and 
if the dew is not heavy.  Flowers don't always open or offer their 
pollen and nectar at or before dawn.

Water carriers usually get out pretty early, but the pollen and nectar 
foragers can only work when the flowers are ready.

If the flowers are not ready but the bees are, the bees will be pretty 
cranky.

I recall one time on canola pollination noticing that there was nothing 
for the bees until 9 AM.  They could and did fly before that, but I was 
stung just for walking a respectful distance from the hives.  After 9, 
they were too busy to notice me.

As for artificial stimulation, IMO, that is too much trouble compared to 
simply locating the bees where the sun can reach them early enough that 
they don't miss the early part of the work day.

Hives facing the sun, not shaded by trees and hills, buildings, etc. and 
high enough that they are not in pools of damp, cold early morning air 
will naturally fly at the appropriate time.  Auger holes in the brood 
chambers help, too.

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