Bob Harrison wrote:
> Bill said:
>  Most of what I have read says that with winters above an
> average of 28F wrapping will help, but not when winters are below 28F
> average.
>
> I believe Bill has the above backwards. I have done both and if you want a
> winter with an average temperature above 28F. wrap your bees. Don't wrap
> your bees and you will many times  *it seems* get a very cold winter.
>
> Wrapping is standard practice in the colder regions of the world which
> should explain the benefit in areas of extreme cold and wind chills..

All beekeeping is local. I stand by what I said. Wrapping in Minnesota
was not as important as using three deeps rather than two (Hive and
Honey Bee). Wrapping in Missouri would make sense because the winters
are warmer. Wrapping, as I said, helps keep the temp stable in the hive,
so in warmer winters (a relative term) wrapping keeps them cold, which
is what is wanted. You are not looking to keep the colony warm, but just
the opposite. But come spring, the wrapped hive will stay colder so the
unwrapped might build up earlier, but that might be counterproductive,
since you might end up with sudden cold snaps which could lead to
starvation. Wrapping is for both ends of the winter, not the middle.

Wrapping is also good to get rid of the holes in any older hive to keep
drafts down, but I find my bees patch them up fairly well before winter
hits. We have cold winters, but you will find most do not wrap.

Bill Truesdell
Bath, Maine

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