Hi All The last week or so I have spent many many hours manning an observation hive at a Science Festival and I noted the range in hive temperature over that time. Now my observations previously have shown that brood hatches faster over warmer periods, sometimes by as much as a day earlier than expected (esp with queens). Now if we rear our bees in small cell size dimension combs and maybe paint the front and back of the hive blue so that early morning hive temps are slightly higher and afternoon temps are unaffected one would be able to raise the hive temp at times when it will not badly effect the bees (eg midday) and thus speed the brood rearing cycle up. I don't know what effect increased temp has on varroa. But hopefully in this way one could get the brood to hatch before a full varroa reproductive cycle has been filled?? Just a thought. Keep well Garth Garth Cambray Camdini Apiaries Grahamstown Apis mellifera capensis Eastern Cape Prov. South Africa Time = Honey If parents taught kids about the birds and bees, guys would believe they were half the women they used to be!! Standard Disclaimer applies to this post.