In a message dated 09/09/05 11:58:57 GMT Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

<<My, albeit, best anecdotal observation is that the best  survivors in my
apiaries fly the least in the winter, wait until more  favorable weather in
very early spring to fly, and are the most  conservative. They are fed no
white sugar or  HFCS.>>


Very much so. I used to have hybrids which were  quite unsuited to the
climate; they wintered in very large clusters, flew a lot  in winter, ate a great
deal of winter stores, and eventually died out because  the queens wouldn't mate
in less than ideal conditions. My present bees winter  in very small
clusters, eat very little overwinter, and hardly fly even on mild  winter days. A few
do come out, so they can go if they're desperate, unless it's  really cold,
but casual observation suggests that they probably need to go  significantly
less often than the other strain. I don't suppose anyone's done  any research on
the toilet habits of different races of bee!


Regards,

Robert Brenchley

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