Excellent post Deanna.

So few people seem to take in the wider picture as you have done here.

So often we can predict winter losses in advance, simply by taking into 
account all the factors affecting our bees as they go into winter.

Whilst on the subject of winter losses, I question their accuracy - and even 
what should be included.  In the UK we have surveys that ask for losses as 
at various dates, e.g. 1 April or 15 April; but I would ask whether those 
completing the surveys have actually done a complete inspection of all their 
colonies before completing the survey.  Perhaps there are bees flying from a 
hive and you think that it is OK, but a proper inspection later reveals a 
drone laying queen.  Is that then a 'winter loss'?  Is queen failure at some 
time between the final autumn inspection and a first spring inspection 
anything to do with winter?  The hive might have failed anyway - even if we 
had a tropical climate all year round.

Best wishes

Peter
52.194546N, -1.673618W 

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