Subject: | |
From: | |
Reply To: | |
Date: | Wed, 13 Dec 1995 09:05:00 -0800 |
Content-Type: | text/plain |
Parts/Attachments: |
|
|
Jean Pierre (Chapleau),
There has been too much focus on insulation and as you pointed out, not
enough on humidity. I think we can not seperate the two. In the
early 1980's, Szabo did some comparisons between insulated colonies and
non-insulated colonies in southern Alberta, and concluded that
insulation was not such an important factor as long as the colonies
were in a protected, more-or-less wind free location. Of course,
southern Alberta is a very dry environment where build up of humidity
is not likely.
As Jerry (Bromenshenk) stated recently, the dead air mass inside the
hive surrounding the cluster is the primary insulator, but to optimize
the insulating properties the bees must be able to remove excess
moisture. Sufficient air circulation is the key to accomplish this
goal.
Here on the west coast where winters are extremely wet, I recommend
beekeepers to place colonies well off the ground so that air can
circulate underneath the hives, and have the hive tilted slightly
forward to prevent water buildup on the bottomboard. In very wet
conditions, I even recommend an 2" hole right in the bottom board
covered with wire mesh (8-gauge). YEars ago, when I applied these
holes to some colonies I was surprised that these colonies had much
less dead bees covering the bottomboard in late winter than those
without the auger hole. ( I should mention though that none had a top
entrance).
Jerry also made a cautionary remark about condensation build up with
the use of some wraps. I agree and I would think that ample air
circulation is the only way bees can take full advantage of the
insulating properties of winter wraps.
By the way, someone mentioned earlier about the Inuit ('eskimos') and
their igloos, and there is some interesting information about this.
The quest for the northwest passage by European explorers including
Franklin, were marked by constant failure and horrendous suffering by
crews because (apart from scurvy) they relied primarily on woolen
clothing. Although perfectly warm when dry, it became disasterous when
crews were perspiring and the clothing became wet. The Inuit had
figured out centuries before that very loose clothing made of deer skin
was the answer because it would breath and get rid of excess moisture.
I suppose the modern equivalent is Goretex. Having said that, perhaps
it is worth finding out whether a Goretex winterwrap is the ultimate
answer!
Paul van Westendorp [log in to unmask]
Provincial Apiarist
British Columbia
|
|
|