About shipments of multiple queens and heat: queen breeders send multiple
queens in boxes very similar in design but sometimes slightly different in
dimension. But all have this in common: same sized vents on opposite sides
of the box.

Southwick & Moritz mention negative phototaxis: that bees fanning in an
otherwise dark colony face away from the light source to fan (rear end to
the light), even if the light source is away from the entrance. Perhaps the
queen shipment box should have a vent on one side with a light baffle and a
vent on the opposite side with a surface inside the box so fanners could
point their rears toward the light. This configuration might allow bees to
use instinct to more effectively circulate air when needed, and cut down on
unnecessary cold air intrusion at the same time. For more effective
bee-forced circulation, the exhaust vent would need to be much smaller than
is currently used (2-3 inches), similar to the entrance of a hive,
contributing to heat retention when needed. Just some thoughts . . .

Tim
eastern WA

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