> 
> It is a misconception that colony buildup has anything to do with
> photoperiod or time of year.  It instead appears to be a function of
> temperature and pollen availability.  

Even in Australia it does appear to have some effect.  That said it is also
possible to have conditions here conducive to swarming anytime of the year.
On one occasion we (two outfits) had swarming in July, i.e. middle of winter
in one of the coldest places in Queensland.  In fact it was sleety weather
when we drove onto the site to see a swarm at the base of a thistle.  Next
day was not a lot better.

There had been copious quantities of good pollen and a light nectar flow.

Geoff Manning

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