An overwintering study with Russian bees for three winters in the early 2000s in Iowa confirms and adds some new information to what has been commented. https://www.ars.usda.gov/SP2UserFiles/Place/64133000/PDFFiles/401-500/465-Villa--Overwintering%20of%20Russian.pdf Colonies were housed in two boxes, had total initial weights of at least 90 lbs. and bees occupying at least six frames, were treated with Apistan in August. Colonies lost about 20 lbs from November to April, and their estimated cluster volume at the end of the winter (at around 50F) were around 3 gallons. Interestingly, most of the few Italian and Russian colonies that died had tracheal mite levels above the "threshold" of 20% of bees infested. https://www.ars.usda.gov/SP2UserFiles/Place/64133000/PDFFiles/401-500/465-Villa--Overwintering%20of%20Russian.pdf *********************************************** The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html
