>
>
> >our native black bees fly at lower temperatures - in one extreme case I
> saw a queen return from a mating flight at 5ºC (41ºF) and must say that I
> was surprised that there were drones on the wing!
Thanks for this observation Peter, since I've long wondered just how queens
in the UK manage to get mated.
For my Italian-type stock in Calif, there's often foraging a low temps,
esp. if sunlight hits the hive entrance, but not mating flights.
I watch the thermometer to see when drones begin flying. Very few venture
out in my yard until the air temp reaches at least 68F (20C).
--
Randy Oliver
Grass Valley, CA
www.ScientificBeekeeping.com
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