Hi All
 
The last week or so I have spent many many hours manning an
observation hive at a Science Festival and I noted the range in hive
temperature over that time.
 
Now my observations previously have shown that brood hatches faster
over warmer periods, sometimes by as much as a day earlier than
expected (esp with queens).
 
Now if we rear our bees in small cell size dimension combs and maybe
paint the front and back of the hive blue so that early morning hive
temps are slightly higher and afternoon temps are unaffected one
would be able to raise the hive temp at times when it will not badly
effect the bees (eg midday) and thus speed the brood rearing cycle
up.
 
I don't know what effect increased temp has on varroa.
 
But hopefully in this way one could get the brood to hatch before a
full varroa reproductive cycle has been filled??
 
Just a thought.
 
Keep well
 
Garth
 
Garth Cambray           Camdini Apiaries
Grahamstown             Apis mellifera capensis
Eastern Cape Prov.
South Africa
 
Time = Honey
If parents taught kids about the birds and bees, guys would believe they were half the women they used to be!!
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