<However, I've spoken to Canadian
beekeepers who feed singles  prior to wintering until every comb is filled
(45kg total weight goal).   Their bees winter successfully.  So much for our
common  sense>

Living in MT, that was what I was taught to do.  But, just before he
passed from pancreatic cancer, I had a long talk with Southwick.  He placed
whole colonies in a -80 freezer and conducted studies.

He found:


1) As the temp dropped, the cluster tightened, until the hairs were
inter-laced,
2) Food consumed was lowest at temperatures just below freezing, but went
up dramatically at really cold temps,
3) When it was VERY cold, the cluster would move over against an outside,
EMPTY comb.

They would press their bodies against the empty cells, in essence,
producing a DEAD AIR space, for better insulation.

After that discussion, I stopped moving a honey frame into the space
adjacent to the side wall(s) of each hive body.  Like many, I had assumed  that
the bees just didn't get around to  fully filling  those  frames.  It
appears, the bees wanted it that way.

Jerry





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