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Subject:
From:
Peter de Bruyn Kops <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Fri, 30 May 2008 08:39:21 -0400
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This subject has attracted my beekeeping and intellectual interest and I'm
interested in corroboration.

>>> Remember, that quick drying will reduce the bees part in the drying 
>>> process, which is to "eat" and regurgitate the nectar. Each time they do 
>>> that it increases the enzyme load. The longer it takes to dry the honey, 
>>> the more enzymes.

I don't remember.  Is there research to back that up?  It seems equally
plausible to me that bees could sense the enzyme load and only top it up if
necessary, thereby saving the effort/biological expense of making more
enzymes than necessary.  Evolution has a habit of weeding out waste.

It seems to me the bees' part in the drying process is to circulate dry air
in and moist air out.  Regurgitation works on curing/enzyme levels.  Given
weather and daily temp fluctuations, the moisture level in uncapped honey is
unlikely to decline monotonically to the capping point but rather fluctuate
for a while between 16 and 22%.  My mental model (no research) is that honey
gets capped when the moisture is below some threshold AND the enzyme levels
are above some threshold AND the colony has the time and materials to get
the job done.  I believe capping happens in bursts.

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