> On Jan 19, 2018, at 2:11 PM, Rusty Burlew <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
>  Worker bees deep in cells, with heads down, are a normal part of a winter cluster.  As I explained before, this is what the bees do to keep the insulating mantle of the cluster continuous, even where a comb slices through it. Yes, when a colony starves, we find lots of bees deep in cells, but they are not a sign of starvation.”

Rusty,

Bees cluster that way in the winter (as I’m sure you know), so finding dead bees that way is only an indication that they died while clustered.  That can include starvation but does not necessarily indicate it. Most new beekeepers (which I’m aware you are not) think that dead bees in cells means that the colony starved regardless of other signals and we hear that parroted over and over again.

Perhaps Dr. Seeley was reacting to fighting this incorrect generally rather than your specific example. He even says "Yes, when a colony starves, we find lots of bees deep in cells, but they are not a sign of starvation.” 

David Baker
To Bee or Not To Bee
Denver, CO USA
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