Hello Beekeepers,
 
I'm a bit puzzled about the obvious differences in wintrering between
Scandinavia
where I live, and the US and Canada. That there is a need for top entrance
during
winter. Are we missing something  here in Scandinavia?
 
One thing I belive need to be taken into the discussion is the effect different
races of bees have to winter behaviour. I think that we maybe look more into
finding a suitable bee for the different lokations than designing hives to
fit the
climat.
 
Most people in nothern Sweden use Carnica or the old scandinavian black bee
(mellifera mellifera). There is even a projekt going on that aims to restore as
much as possible of the m. mellifera genetic material because of their exellent
wintering qualities.
 
When there a long time has been a yearly import of bees from warmer climates
due to the habit of killing bees in autumn and start up with packages in spring,
there is a risk of ending up with unsuitable genetic characteristics in the bees
in US and Canada.
 
Some beekeepers here persists to use strains of ligustica bees that end up
in a mess each spring with wet and mouldy frames and lots of dead bees.
The bees recover and produce a good crop, and the beekeeper is happy.
Others can't stand the mess and choose bees that winter well. Wintering is
also taken under consideration when the selection for breeders is done.
 
I like to hear your thougths on the subject.
 
regards
 
P-O Gustafsson