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Subject:
From:
"Paul van Westendorp of AGF 576-5600 Fax: 576-5652" <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Discussion of Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Wed, 13 Dec 1995 09:05:00 -0800
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    Jean Pierre (Chapleau),
 
    There has been too much focus on insulation and as you pointed out, not
    enough on humidity.  I think we can not seperate the two.  In the
    early 1980's, Szabo did some comparisons between insulated colonies and
    non-insulated colonies in southern Alberta, and concluded that
    insulation was not such an important factor as long as the colonies
    were in a protected, more-or-less wind free location.  Of course,
    southern Alberta is a very dry environment where build up of humidity
    is not likely.
 
    As Jerry (Bromenshenk) stated recently, the dead air mass inside the
    hive surrounding the cluster is the primary insulator, but to optimize
    the insulating properties the bees must be able to remove excess
    moisture.  Sufficient air circulation is the key to accomplish this
    goal.
 
    Here on the west coast where winters are extremely wet, I recommend
    beekeepers to place colonies well off the ground so that air can
    circulate underneath the hives, and have the hive tilted slightly
    forward to prevent water buildup on the bottomboard.  In very wet
    conditions, I even recommend an 2" hole right in the bottom board
    covered with wire mesh (8-gauge).  YEars ago, when I applied these
    holes to some colonies I was surprised that these colonies had much
    less dead bees covering the bottomboard in late winter than those
    without the auger hole.  ( I should mention though that none had a top
    entrance).
 
    Jerry also made a cautionary remark about condensation build up with
    the use of some wraps.  I agree and I would think that ample air
    circulation is the only way bees can take full advantage of the
    insulating properties of winter wraps.
 
    By the way, someone mentioned earlier about the Inuit ('eskimos') and
    their igloos, and there is some interesting information about this.
    The quest for the northwest passage by European explorers including
    Franklin, were marked by constant failure and horrendous suffering by
    crews because (apart from scurvy) they relied primarily on woolen
    clothing.  Although perfectly warm when dry, it became disasterous when
    crews were perspiring and the clothing became wet.  The Inuit had
    figured out centuries before that very loose clothing made of deer skin
    was the answer because it would breath and get rid of excess moisture.
    I suppose the modern equivalent is Goretex.  Having said that, perhaps
    it is worth finding out whether a Goretex winterwrap is the ultimate
    answer!
 
    Paul van Westendorp                         [log in to unmask]
    Provincial Apiarist
    British Columbia

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