My bees and I live in Southern centre of Finland, 250 km north of Helsinki.

There is no very big differences between areas for wintering bees in Finland. 
Rainfall average for all country is about the same 640 mm.  Only the Åland 
islands (between Finland and Sweden) and Northernmost Lappland are much 
different from other areas. Åland has mild weather with long fall, and bees 
near the home of Santa Clause in Lappland have very long winter.

At my area bees are normally without flying for 1.11 ? 15.4. about 5,5 months. 
Can be in some years up to 7 months. So it is no surprice that not all lines 
and strains of bees can winter here. Selection for wintering abilities is fast. 
But most queens imported from central Europe are ok. Old timers say starnights 
from US in the 70?s were ok, but not all lines from US. Now import from US is 
illegal.  

Ari Seppälä

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