I would be very cautous in the use of a dehydrator with the bees. In the summer, the bees can collect moisture to dilute the honey for feeding to brood. My understanding is that they need moisture in the winter for this process as well. It is thus beneficial to have some moisture condensation, not over the cluster perhaps, but accessable. If we start providing too much ventilation or moisture removal, we may see increased losses but not realize w'eve given too much of a good thing. I commend those of you with a number of hives who are experimenting and keeping good records. There is going to be no quick fix because we are dealing with a living animal which can compensate for our foolishness within a certain range. Results are thus not always conclusive from one test. If I might suggest some reading, look in your local library for information on "Design of Experiments". It is a method of investigating a process with dependencies from a number of influences. One we use for teaching it in an electronics research environment is 'Understanding Industrial Designed Experiments' by Schmidt and Launsby, available from the publisher for about $70 with PC software disk included for analysis of the results. The publisher is AIR Academy Press, 1155 Kelly Johnson Boulevard, Suite 105, Colorado Springs, CO 80920, phone (800)748-1277. One of the things I think we need is a metric to use for more rapid feedback on how well the process is doing without waiting so long. The information presented earlier on results beyond survival to splitting was very good and useful but it took too long. We need to instrument our tests better to record parameters such as temperture, humidity, and others that will predict later performance. New electronic sensors hooked to a PC for monitoring will eventually make this possible, if someone will then fund the research. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + Raymond J. Lackey, EAS Master Beekeeper, VP LIBA + + Twelve years exper with 25 colonies on Long Island, NY+ + INTERNET: [log in to unmask] + + Mail: 1260 Walnut Avenue, Bohemia NY 11617-2176 + + Home Phone: 516-567-1936 FAX: 516-262-8053 + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++