Has there been research on "degree-days" to figure out when various
races of honeybees start brood?
    The degree-day figures are used in gardening to figure things from "weed
emergence" dates to probable "pest hatch out" dates.  As I understand it is
the accumulated number of degrees above a certain point, i.e. heating degree
days tell how much you've had to heat your home to keep it above a set point
(65F).  Agricultural degree days are figured from 40 to 50 degrees, I think.
It applies widely in gardening. Here the heating degree days are in the
weather section of the paper.
    I was watching my bees flying today (48F) and figured it's time for
pollen patties.  Degree-days would help this beeginner be more certain.
    Hours of daylight correlate somewhat with degree days, too.  My chickens
are starting to lay more and should go broody soon due to the day-length.
    Thanks, in anticipation.  I'm a lurker, Mid Virginia USA, 12
overwintering hives, working toward Russian Hygenics (Smart Russians). (Know
of sources for these queens?) Keep talking!!!  Susi Wilson

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