In a message dated 12/30/00 6:09:00 PM Eastern Standard Time, writes:

<<  In your area,
 outdoors, you should be concerned mostly about excess moisture condensing in
the  hive and therefore slant the hive forward a bit.>>

   As one who has wintered in north and south, Allen has some good points,
which I'd like to expand a bit.  Moisture becomes more of a problem as it is
colder. It is not unusual for many southern beekeepers to feed syrup at any
time in the winter. But this gives more water for the bees to dispose of. I
would highly recommend feeding only DRY sugar, in a feeder rim, during these
cold spells. This not only does not add moisture, but helps sop up
condensation. Syrup is OK later when it warms up a bit. If the hives are
heavy, I wouldn't disturb them to feen until the first of February, as they
aren't going to really consume much until brood rearing starts. I often seen
new brood around here in January, but don't expect it this year unless the
weather makes a dramatic change.

<< If you want to insulate at all, a slab of Styrofoam on top of the lid is
about
 all you'll want.  It can help with brood rearing and temper weather
changes.>>

   Some pine straw in a feeder rim would have the same effect without the
cost. I haven't really felt the need for any insulation for good hives. Weak
hives, I usually combine with a good one, but I have wintered over nucs with
young queens placed in side to side contact with the entrances in opposite
directions. It must help, as the cluster always favors the inner side. Also
weak hives can be wintered on a screen over strong ones, but make sure the
entrance faces opposite, as drift from the strong hive will tend upwards and
can actually kill the strong one below.

 <<Full sun from sunup to sundown is good at this time of year, even in the
south. Shelter from the prevailing winds is also very beneficial.>>   Even in
a mild winter, wind protection is critical, even in the South. I've seen
hives go downhill badly during a windy March, when the temperatures aren't
actually that bad.

   One additional thing. Cold makes the bees more vulnerable to mouse damage,
so mouse guards become more important. If they also reduce entrances, it
would be good, because the first early warm weather will often stimulate
robbing.

    I feel quite good about the cold this year. It hasn't really been that
bad, no serious storms have hit us here in SC. The cold should reduce some
pests next season, and the bees and perennial plants are pretty well
"hardened off" at this time of year. I think a mild winter with some March
storms is a lot worse for both bees, hardwood forage plants, and fruit trees.
The only thing it's hard on is ME, which wasn't true when I was younger. I
spent many years pruning apple orchards and building houses in lots colder
weather than this. But old injuries really throb when they get cold.
Nowadays, when I awake, if it doesn't hurt somewhere, I check my pulse...

Dave Green
The Pollination Home Page:  http://pollinator.com