> Interesting paper! Winter bees are only of interest to
> those which winter in
> the north. I doubt of little interest to those preparing
> bees for almonds.

Perhaps, winter bees might be of some interest to migratory beekeepers such as those preparing for almonds.   If we look at some early accounts of transporting bees, they were aware of the great stresses placed on the bees while in transport, and discovered that they had more success in transporting bees during their winter mode. 

A voyage to America took 6 to 8 weeks, bees starting their
voyage in autumn would be in winter ready condition, and if confined would
travel quite well being able to retain their feaces. Bees shipped during the active season needed to have free flight from the deck of the ship in order to void. After complaints of excessive stinging from ships crew, they began to position colonies off the rear of the ship. In 1842 William Charles Cotton, Grand Bee Master of New Zealand published a method for a five months voyage for shipping bees from England to New Zealand which he describes cooling beehives with cool air circulating up from ice to help reduce their metabolic rate.

Joe Waggle ~ Derry, PA  
‘Bees Gone Wild Apiaries' 


      

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