In message <[log in to unmask]>, 
Chris Slade <[log in to unmask]> writes
>Brood-wise and food-wise, they're doing fine and there is a field full 
>of clover next door. Within a stone's throw of the hive, in the flowery 
>field, is a pylon bearing electricity cables.  Would they be affecting 
>the bees' temper?
>
>Chris

Don't really care how many studies have been done, seems like they at 
times have a desired answer and seek the evidence to support it, skewing 
the trial , perhaps unintentionally, in the process.

Bottom line is we have had lots of places near, beside, under, and above 
power lines. ( the latter buried ones)

Mentioned too often before, one of the best places I have is actually 
inside the square of the legs of a huge junction pylon carrying 330000V 
lines you can hear buzzing in the right conditions.

Effect on the bees precisely zero. No change in temperament, no crooked 
comb, no navigation problems, not abnormal loss of queens on mating 
flights.

Under the sag on power lines half way between pylons is where you might 
expect the strongest fields. Been in such places many many times. Again 
no effect whatsoever.

Grumpy swarms are usually a function of the time it has been since it 
exited parent colony (getting hungry?) and weather conditions when 
trying to catch it. Almost any swarm can be mean if it has been hanging 
around for a long time, and black bee ones seem most prone to this 
behaviour. Pussycats when fresh, and probably will be again once their 
food shortage is past.

-- 
Murray McGregor

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