>>> why bees drop on the snow on the ground on cool, sunny days.
> 

I agree losses of this nature are likely not as significant as they seem 
but with clusters the size of grapefruit, one doesn't like to lose 
otherwise healthy bees if you don't have to. I also wonder how many of 
them are essentially healthy bees out for a cleansing flight that just 
succumb to the temperature as opposed to older worn-out bees that have 
chosen to take one last flight and die outside, for the good of the 
hive? I don't know the answer to this question. I've always assumed they 
were old bees but I noticed a bee on it's back in the snow last weekend 
when I was up checking stores, it's legs were moving ever so feebly. I 
picked it up and held it in my cupped hand and after a few minutes it 
revived, crawled out on my finger, and flew off. It looked like a young 
bee. Having done my good deed for the day, I went home.

I have never seen undertaker bees at work in the middle of winter, even 
on a nice day. When spring arrives they get busy cleaning out the hive.

Bill Truesdell has suggested that checking your hives in the middle of 
winter is a waste of time since there's really nothing you can do for 
them and if they're dead, well, they'll be just as dead come spring. 
Nonetheless, it just lifts my spirits to see the bees taking advantage 
of a mild winter day for a quick spin.

George-
----------------------
George Fergusson
Whitefield Maine

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