> The contradictory info involves the ability of the colony to 
> thermoregulate with multiple entrances

I see.  It seems bees are quite adaptable.  In my experience, the winter 
cluster can do quite well in dry or somewhat moist conditions as long as the 
humidity does not go above 100%, and that can easily happen with ambient 
temperature fluctuations.

The various wrapping, inner cover, pillow and ventilation schemes are 
designed, perhaps not consciously, to mitigate that problem.  Tibor Szabo 
has some diagrams which most of us have seen of the position and movement of 
winter clusters under various configurations.  It is loose on the web, 
somewhere.

The spring cluster is different.  When brood raising ramps up, the cluster 
is much more vulnerable to changes in temperature as well as humidity.  At 
this point, especially if the cluster is small and the bees are old, excess 
space and ventilation can be fatal or very limiting.

> and the question as to how necessary some of that winter moisture is in 
> very dry winter climates such as yours.

Moisture, humidity, is not necessary for the winter cluster, beyond the 
minimum supply needed to survive while wintering, but when brood rearing 
starts up at the end of January, and is present in any significant amount 
beyond the little patch they often keep, it becomes critical.

Henry Pirker from the most northerly of Alberta beekeeping regions published 
a study years back called, "Steering Factor Humidity".  In it, he 
demonstrated that by controlling humidity, he could control the amount of 
brood in wintering clusters in his European-style bee house.  That also is 
around on the web somewhere.

I'm too busy today to dig. 

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