Fred Chase asks if in my opinion shady locations, and the possible moist
conditions would encourage wax moths.
 
I would say no Fred, the moisture would not encourage moths but it does
weaken a colony. As has been stated on many occasions in these pages once
that occurs wax moth will quickly assume control of the hive. Another
encouragement to wax moths over here is when beekeepers place a mesh varroa
screen above the normal floor and leave them in situ both summer and winter.
The space below the mesh, which is intended to collect dead mites to monitor
infestation levels, and to which the bees have no access, also collects wax
particles and much other detritus. In this I have seen (not in my hives)
literally hundreds of moth larvae. So, in my opinion, these are a 'tool' to
assist in detecting levels and should be removed once that has been
accomplished.
 
I am not conversant with your climate Fred but imagine Rhode Island to have
'dry very cold' winters compared to the UK's 'wet cold' (not that we have
experienced a cold winter for three or four years now). Irrespective of the
coldness of your area I would hazard a guess that given plenty of
ventilation your colonies will be healthier next year, shade or not.
 
May I extend the thread (I think that is the correct word)?
 
Are colonies better located in partial shade rather than having the full
force of the sun shining on them, I would say that they are but how do
beekeepers in your sunnier states cope with this problem? Overheating of the
hive I believe encourages swarming, requires many hundreds, maybe thousands,
of bees to act as the colonies air conditioning system by collecting and
evaporating water, and those bees would be better employed foraging for
nectar and pollen, and in extreme cases (unlikely in the UK) could lead to
melt down of the combs.
 
Ken Hoare
Shropshire, UK