>>...it seemed viability was higher in the spring, and then would get
a bit worse in the summer, and then up tick again in the fall.
I see the same in my colonies. I used to think this was night
temperature related - cooler nights in the spring and fall cause the
bees to cluster tightly restricting the queen to lay a tighter
pattern?
I've also had queens that did great in nucs with ample laying in
tight formation w/ great brood viability but, when I'd transfer them
into 2-deep hives, some of the queens would not go to lay up 10
frames of brood in the summer. These queens got culled.
Waldemar
Long Island, NY
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