>        I was told that if you buried in snow it is warmer than being open to
>the colder air.  My question is if you use screen bottoms does it keep your
>hives warmer when the snow covers above the floor.  Or does the permafrost
>freeze in the ground under the hive keep it frozen.


Deep snow around the hives is a blessing here in the north. It insulates
the ground, many years preventing it from freezing at all. This makes a
nice warm spot under the hive...I would think helping when screened bottoms
are used. Some years, when the hives are fully buried, an air chamber forms
around the hive, where the heat of the bees has melted the snow. Often
there is a little "chimney" from the upper entrance...up to the surface. I
think they winter better this way, rather than exposed to cold winds, and
severely fluctuating temperatures.

Mike

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