Keith Malone wrote:

>> Why would the wrapped colony not rearrange the stores during the
>> warm periods?
>
> They would but not all the honey would be rearranged and if the next cold
> period last to long they will be left away from the rest of the available
> honey stores.

What would happen if there were no warm period for the bees to rearrange
stores?   I have experienced that very thing in the past more than once.

>> My point was that insulated colonies can withstand the cold long
>> weather better.  They hold a losser cluster, covering more surface
>> space in the colony.
>
> And eat more stores in the process, and can run out of stores before
> winters
> end. I beleive Tom Elliot concluded that is what happened to him last
> winter
> with one of his colonies he keeps.

I did have one colony, out of two, who did completely run out of stores
last winter.   I insulate with two inches of styrofoam board (blue
board) on all sides and on top.   In defense of not giving up insulation
I would say that we had an extremely warm season last year.   I do
suspect it was the increased use of stores that resulted in a bone-dry
hive.   Also, I fed significantly less last year.   I am on the opposite
side of wrapping practice, but what works is what counts.   Keith has
not attacked my methods as not working, only described what worked for him.

Tom Elliott
Chugiak, AK

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