Beekeepers argue about whether Power Lines affect bees.  Published research
shows that they do - but the kinds and degree of the bee response depends
on the type and size of the power lines.
 
Charges and fields that appear weak to humans are easily discerned by bees.
 
Returning foragers are normally positively charged, up to 1.5V
 
Electric fields can make them very aggressive (as evidenced by
electro-shocking to harvest venom)
 
Power Lines have been shown to produce a variety of responses:
 
Absconding
Abnormal Behavior
Irritability
 
Whether or not you see these responses depends on the power lines and the
site.
 
Power lines also produce atmospheric charge and vibrations, these also can
affect bees.
 
Lab tests have shown that metabolic activity, oxygen consumption, and food
intake are increased in response to exposure to low frequency AC fields
(1.4 kV/m)
 
7.4 kV/m  caused a rise in hive temperature
 
50 kV/m induced fighting and stinging among the bees themselves
 
 
An even DC magnetic field of 3.75 oersteds in darkness had little influence.
 
An intermittent DC field induced walking synchronized with the field
fluctuations.
 
 
Dr. Lee Rogers, Washington, U.S. and others conducted some studies of high
voltage DC power lines.
 
The colonies showed poor over-wintering, were very aggressive, and produce
large amounts of propolis.
 
I have seen photographs of the top bars in these hives.  The spaces between
the bars were almost entirely filled in with propolis, with an occassional
small hole through which the bees could pass.  The colony literally encased
itself in a propolis shell.
 
Should you put your colonies under power line?  I'd suggest that you try a
couple of colonies.  If the lines don't adversely affect your colonies,
fine.  But I wouldn't drop a large apiary under high power lines, it could
be a gamble.
 
 
 
 
Jerry J. Bromenshenk
[log in to unmask]
http://www.umt.edu/biology/bees