> > Instead of knocking on the hive, which my father advised me not to Frankly, if it's all that important to know, just take the lid off and some outside frames and look, or crack the hive between the brood chambers and look. It was minus 6 degrees C the other day and I could see live bees in the auger holes of some hives and at the entrance in the inner cover on others. Looking right into a hive by taking it apart is not good for it, but it won't harm a good hive much if only done once -- and carefully. W. Allen Dick,Beekeeper VE6CFK Rural Route One, Swalwell, Alberta Canada T0M 1Y0 Phone/Fax: 403 546 2588 Email: [log in to unmask]