> >what if that "lack of task" is what triggers the differences?
> 
> This hypothesis has merit : )  Amdam's research suggests that it is the
> stimulus of brood pheromone alone, but lack of task could well have
> something to do with it.
> 

Why wouldn't the change in day length be the initial trigger?  It is for so
many organisms.

In Australia although we don't have proper winters, in fact potentially year
round production, the bees will still tend to log in the brood nest in
autumn, and equally will open it in the spring. Also most swarming is in the
spring.  However these activities can be modified both ways by field
conditions.

Geoff Manning

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