I was splitting hives the past two days (a week or more early) and can 
report that so far, the styrofoam hives are far stronger on average than the 
wooden ones with wraps. This is a small sample -- four plastic hives and 
eight wood.   This is also the first year I noticed this effect.  Last 
summer I drilled a one inch ager hole in each styro box and left the holes 
open all winter.

In fact, one, wintered in four standards, had three boxes absolutely crowded 
with bees and a number of swarm cells.  The queen was slimmed down and ready 
to go.

My friends who wintered in single styrofoam boxes with no auger hole have 
bees varying from a half box to almost a full box.

Pictures at today's diary page. 

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