A quick review of The Hive and the Honey Bee reinforced what I had been
taught. The broodless period occurs after pollen and nectar sources die
out, which for us in Maine is early/mid October. Allowing for the last
of the brood to emerge would create a broodless colony in November, just
what I was told by the Maine resident expert.

That would correspond well with a broodless period in December/January
in a milder climate and no broodless period when there are always pollen
and nectar sources. This is the problem our Maine migratory beekeepers
face since they move their bees to Florida so they end up treating when
there is brood present. Hence they rely on something other than OA.

It also occurs during the summer when brood laying can decrease with
decreased nectar and pollen, something that happens here in August.

That there is brood in January is due, in part, to keeping the numbers
up, both for survival and for spring buildup.

Bill Truesdell
Bath, Maine

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