Our counters have not indicated that fall loss of bees is the norm,  although 
on days when it sunny and warm, then suddenly chills, we see that some  of 
the bees don't make it home - I assume they chill off out in the fields,  can't 
get home.
 
We see the same in early spring.  Montana conditions may reflect what  you 
see in Finland - sudden temp drops as sun sets, or as weather changes during  
the day may catch bees too far away to make it home.
 
I used to have a beeyard next to the Univ. police cars - which were  white.  
In spring and fall, late in the day, we'd find dead, dying, resting  bees on 
the hoods of the cars.  Apparently the bees were coming home,  stopped short to 
land on the cars.  
 
As per bee counters - we provide them on a custom basis - have been waiting  
for more than two years for our manufacturing firm to deliver the 
manufacturing  prototypes - Smart Hives and Counters that can be readily assembled in a 
cost  effective manner.  Our custom units have too much hand wiring/soldering to 
 be economical - although probably don't cost any more than the electronic 
scale  - if it has the sensitivity to notices changes in a few bees coming and  
going.  
 
I think that the Brussels firm has stopped producing counters, but I may be  
wrong - last I checked, their web site wasn't functional.
 
Was one firm in Canada, working on one. 
 
When we finally have an affordable counter that can be mass produced, we  
will be ecstatic.  We've have had custom, research grade units for our  own use, 
that we have built since 1995.  But, they cost about  $2,000.  The Brussels 
units were $3500 years ago.
 
We are shooting for something more in the $500 range or less - keep your  
fingers crossed.  Our design/manufacturing firm produced a REALLY nice  counter 
unit last year, with modular replacement parts - but it failed the  bee test - 
the bees gunked up critical components within a week.  No matter  how much we 
stress this, engineers seem slow to learn that what looks good on  paper, 
works on the benchtop, has to pass the bee test.
 
As of January, we have a NEW design that spent 3 months on a hive with no  
appreciable coating/debris from the bees.  Subtle differences in design of  the 
assembly make all the difference, just as bee space has narrow  tolerances.
 
Our new design looks like it will work, AND it will also distinguish worker  
bees from drones from queens.  Looking forward to testing that in a few  weeks 
- still spitting snow in Montana.
 
 
Jerry
**************Feeling the pinch at the grocery store?  Make dinner for $10 or 
less. (http://food.aol.com/frugal-feasts?ncid=emlcntusfood00000001)

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