On Mon, 17 Feb 1997 14:21:00 -0500 "William J. Morrison"
<[log in to unmask]> writes:
>I installed an observation hive late last summer in our university
>biology department building.  The hive  consists of three deep frames.
>The
>air it the building is extremely dry during the heating season, so I
>reasoned that the bees might need water.  They have been taking about
>20 ml
>per day from an inverted bottle inserted in one of the top vent holes
>which
>are covered with wire screening.  I feel that the excellent condition
>of
>this colony is partly due to the water supplied to them.  Now I am
>wondering how an over wintering  colony of honey bees keeps from
>dehydrating in nature.  Do they recycle condensed water from the combs
>surrounding the cluster?  Anyone have any thoughts?
>
>Bill Morrison
>Dept of Biology
>Shippensburg Univ
>Shippensburg, Pennsylvania USA
>(Southcentral Pennsylvania)
>
Hi Bill,
        Those of us up here who use Cellotex type insulation board under
our covers in the winter notice clumps of bees on the condensation soaked
area taking up moisture. This is one of the reasons we believe this type
of insulation serves a dual purpose. The saying goes, moisture on demand
not involuntary rain.
                Regards,
 
Alden Marshall
B-Line Apiaries
Hudson, NH 03051
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tel. 603-883-6764