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Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology

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Subject:
From:
James Fischer <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Mon, 1 Dec 2014 08:00:48 -0500
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> my bees do not seem to  be gluing up 
> the inside of my hives with propolis 
> like they use to

If you have stumbled upon a line of bees that simply propolize less, lucky
you!

But this may well be climate change.  Allow me to speculate a bit.

In earliest spring, while most trees are still dormant, the changes in temps
cause or prevent tree sap "flow".  Warm temps make pressure within the tree.
The pressure causes the tree sap to flow from the tree through openings
produced from cracks or injury.

But you need cold weather, too.  Below freezing temps, the tree pulls water
up through the roots, replenishing the tree sap. This cycle is continues
until the weather stays warm and the tree is "working normally", no longer
dormant.  In the case of sugar maples and other "budding" trees, the sap is
used to create, feed, and to protect buds and new growth, so once the leaves
open, the sap is not really needed by the tree any longer.

So, if there are not the variations between sharply colder nights, and
warmer days, I do not think that the "sap pump" effect is going to be there.
That said, bees also collect resins from areas of new growth.
But trees may be unable to produce as much resin/sap due to a lack of colder
nights.

So, what is your count of "number of nights below freezing" for recent years
vs historical?
Weather underground has all the daily hi/lo temp records, and you can even
download them into a spreadsheet with one click.

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