Chris Slade <[log in to unmask]> wrote:  ... keeping the bees in closed hives for the many hours often  
required to transport them, may have a detrimental effect ..... 

It might be infective if the inability to defecate outside the hive whilst  
shut in multiplied Nosema (A or C) 
.
Temperature would have more effect on the transportation of bees than time.  Most of the bees are transported from one site to the next within a 48 hour time period.  Those who do the transporting please correct me if I am wrong.  In any event, being sequestered to the hive for the short period of time that the transportation requires would not suffice to create a hardship due to lack of flying time.  The time period would be a lot less than experienced in the winters up north.

Mike

       
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