On Thu, 18 May 1995, Jean-Marie Van Dyck wrote:
 
>    a/ if you don't open the bee ports : the cell temperature is not quite OK
>       because a lack of bees on the cell.
 
On Thu, 18 May 1995 22:21:33 +0100 Allen Dick answered :
 
> I would have thought taht the temperature would be pretty constant
> through the whole brood area, or incubator.  I can see how the queen
> might have trouble breathing thru the cell walls though, with a plastic
> tube around the cell.
 
Hi Allen !
 
Ok the temp. is constant in an incubator with blower but in the hive,
the bees take care of the temperature throught the brood.
 
1/ I don't know how they do this but I remember an article (I don't
have time to find author and ref) speaking about an extremely specific
chemical (1,2-DIOLEYL-3-PALMITOYL-rac- GLYCEROL) secreted by the pupa
(workers, drones and *queens*) through the capping wax.  This chemical
(and only this) causes the bees are running on the brood : they ran a
lot on false queen cells treated with the chemical ! Maybe this is the
signal to keep high temp. through the brood ?
 
2/ I don't know which *weather* you have today in Alberta but here in
Belgium, today, with a lot of queen cells in all stages, we have had
2-5 degC tonight and 11-15 C afternoon with very cold north wind.  We
must be sure the queen cells are in good condition. So I don't like to
separate cells from the bees and I'm only using protectors when
necessary (the last day when I put them in the nucs but not always)
 
Hope this move the discussion ahead ? (french speaking ... Is this correct?)
 
PS.  I would like to see your JZBZ protectors.
 
Regards.
Jean-Marie  <[log in to unmask]>