Interesting discussions regarding Derek Mitchell's work, often cited in
support of the 'condensing hive' approach to overwintering in cold winter
areas, or more hive insulation generally.  Those of us living in such areas
obviously want good winter survival. Proper mite control is expected to
take care of most of the winter loss problems.  If colonies are large
enough, healthy, and have enough stores, they can overwinter well in cold
winter areas under various configurations of insulation and ventilation.
Perhaps bees dealing with the chimney draft situation of top and bottom
entrances in winter are uncomfortable all season?  But it's an approach
that 'works'.  Bottom-only entrance plus insulation all round also 'works'.

Beyond simple survival, which approach results in healthier bees, or does
either make that much difference?  Some attention is paid to the possible
beneficial effects of higher humidity for its repression of mite
reproduction (in the 'condensing' situation),  but this does not seem to be
decisive for survival.  Better availability of water in the hive with less
ventilation seems like it could be one of the most useful benefits of that
overwintering method.

The hivehugger people, who market an insulation package and advocate the
condensing winter configuration, emphasize that bees stay unclustered with
this product and the internal temp remains as high as 20C.  Is this a good
thing, and/or do such temperatures, with active, unclustered winter bees,
provide any overall benefit?  Indoor controlled environment wintering aims
for 5C, known to be the optimum for the least use of resources by the bees
- clustering, though.

Regards to all,

Rob Hughes
Upper Kingsclear, NB

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