> 
> Geoff, I've looked into this in great detail, and have found little or no
> supporting evidence for that being the trigger, but plently of evidence to
> the contrary.  E.g., when I visited Trevor Weatherhead midwinter some
> years
> ago, there was a flow on from one of the eucalypts, yet despite the very
> short day length and cool weather, the colonies were brooding up and
> producing white wax.

This was more or less my point.  Even though we can have major honey flows
in the winter there is still the tendency to go through a cycle.  In autumn
reduced egg laying, particularly drones. This lack of drones is the main
limitation to queen rearing. Also there is a tendency to log in the brood
nest. Even in places with a pretty ordinary spring there is still an attempt
to layout and swarm.  

So my pint was that photo period was likely to initiate seasonal behaviour
but it can then be modified to greater or lesser extent by local conditions
or needs.  This is common in other organisms.  Sheep for instance running
with a ram all year will tend to mate during the shortening day length.  But
the lambing can be manipulated if the ram is kept away and then introduced
at such a time as to suit ones management.


Geoff Manning

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