Geoff Manning wrote:>So presumably cessation and resumption of brood rearing is a tad more complicated than suggested.<

Whatever the triggers for cessation and resumption of brood tearing there will always be ability to adapt to local conditions - or honeybees would not have been able to spread into so many climate zones.  You can get vestiges of behaviours left behind I suggest. 

Do Oz bees at least dip the egg laying rate in winter, even if they do not stop altogether?  Does the old lady not get even a partial rest? 

Robin 
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