Norman Carreck at Sussex University tells me that he has had bees 
wintered indoors under artificial light and air conditioning and thus 
no clues as to what was happening outside and yet they resumed brooding 
at exactly the same time as colonies kept outside.

This winter, I and a few others, have placed 'in and out' thermometers 
in hives and recording daily (if possible) the readings, also any 
entrance activity or pollen gathering.  We are still at the learning 
stage and it will take another season or two and more people playing 
before any conclusions can be drawn.  Latitude and altitude are listed 
in case they may be relevant.

My curiosity was roused by the difference between latest sunrise, 
shortest day, and earliest sunset, there being (at this latitude) about 
a fortnight between each of those events and wondering which, if any, 
was the bees' trigger.  Norman's observation suggests that none of them 
applies. I wonder whether there is a racial difference?  The bees at 
Sussex Uni are Amm and that might be a reason for them all doing the 
same thing at the same time.  Mine are local mongrels and so are those 
that my apprentices are checking (my bees on their property).

Chris
  

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