Hi all

I think the day length hypothesis is pretty well nullified:

1) the change in day length in December and into January is practically imperceptible, even to us. At latitude 40N day length is 9.37 hours Dec 1, 9.17 hours Dec 16, and 9.21 on Jan 1.

2) European honey bees frequently occupied hollow trees, where it is completely dark for weeks or months. Not to mention heavy cloud cover in winter, as well as snow and ice, possibly closing off entrance openings. 

3) if honey bees retain their tropical instincts, then they no doubt respond primarily to food intake, that is - lack of it. On the other hand, then may stimulate breeding when consuming stores to generate hear in mid winter.

4) the bees that started breeding after a two or three month lapse, were the bees that more likely survived winter and swarmed early, -- hence natural selection on early breeding.

PLB

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