Hi all:

Here's a problem that we're trying to solve.  We have a project in a SW
state where the daily high is 112-117 degrees F.  Gets down to a chilly 90
degrees at night.

We've got bees trained to feeders.  They fly well from dawn to about noon,
4 till dusk.  During the heat of the day, flight shuts down --

1) they've still got syrup and water available to them in feeders
2) bees aren't even gathering water

However, the hives roar with the sound of fanning bees.  Hives are under
shades.

It appears that its so hot that virtually every bee is pressed into service
fanning.  Seems like they gather enough water/syrup in morning to meet the
evaporation needs, so even the water gatherers are staying in the hive.

Now for the problem, either they are shut down because of the intense heat
in the hive and need to cool it, or they, like people, don't work in 'black
flag' conditions, or its a combination of the two.  Tried cooling hives
with dry ice, but it didn't get bees back out.

Any tricks to get bees to fly under these severe conditions?

Jerry

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