The world has changed for managed bees in recent decades, including the glaring example of their increased viral loads from predation combined with the added environmental stress associated with the multiple-fold increase in pesticide use and continued habitat loss. So, it's worth considering that a wintering cluster in specific environments may benefit from a more natural winter hive, which means that the hive body affords more thermal resistance.  Conservation of heat loss and increased colony survival is already proven with the use of overwintering facilities.  In addition, an insulated hive environment with minimal ventilation that allows the colony to control hive gases and condense moisture for winter seems supportive of bee biology since that's how most cavity nesters evolved.  The research on condensing colonies is minimal, but the anecdotal accounts of survival are worthy of more research.  

The word survival, which we use indiscriminately as part of our bee vocabulary, may need revision to include a more nuanced understanding of what it takes for bees in our environment to not only survive but also thrive. 

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