On 8-Jun-09, at 3:51 AM, Peter Edwards wrote:

> Randy:
>
>> This paper suggests that a very late pollen flow or feeding
>> may actually be detrimental to wintering.
>
> Certainly not my experience.  Availability of pollen late in the  
> year produces a flush of young bees that overwinter well.

Hi Peter Randy and all

Heather Matilla, the author of the work Randy quoted,  did her work  
at the U of Guelph in Ontario.  Southern Ontario winter weather,  
while not really severe, is certainly different than Stratford on  
Avon.  Could the different climates not affect the results?  Getting  
the bees to cluster early in the fall seems to be the way to go  
here.  We had a joint meeting of the Dufferin and Wellington  
Beekeepers Associations to hear Heather speak about her work.  She  
found that early spring feeding of pollen or substitute was very  
beneficial whereas autumn feeding was less so on the spring buildup  
of colonies.

Bob Darrell
Caledon Ontario
Canada
44N80W

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