The cluster of bees on the combs exists as 5/16" layers of bees in the
beespaces, separated by 1-3/8" of honey in the combs. The entire cluster is
enclosed by an insulating/heat-generating shell of bees with their heads
facing inward. The only place where heat transfer could take place via the
combs (other than within the cluster itself) would be where the combs
projected beyond the cluster. That would only be relevant in the honey
combs above the cluster, since in the empty combs below, bees fill the
cells.
When I've measured temperature of the honey in the combs at the interface
with the cluster, the temps indicated that heat transfer via the honeycombs
is minimal.
--
Randy Oliver
Grass Valley, CA
www.ScientificBeekeeping.com
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