- Joined
- Sep 4, 2011
- Messages
- 6,005
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- Location
- Wiveliscombe
- Hive Type
- National
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- 24
As I'm sitting having my lunch...
I think "winter bees" is a poor name that leads to much confusion. I'd suggest that using the terms "long-lived bees" or diutinus bees would be more helpful when the concept is introduced to new beekeepers. I wouldn't be in the least surprised if bees with the same characteristics occur at other times of year because it's not the fact that "winter is coming" that stimulates their behaviour, but the lack of brood for them to feed once they emerge. I also dislike the wording that the colony "produces" such bees because to me it implies some sort of deliberate switchover rather than being part of the natural ebb and flow of brood numbers.
Two instances when I believe bees with these traits might exist at other times of year are when an emergency queen is raised and during swarming. It's clearly not the same kind of time period as the entire winter, but quite possibly as long as the figure often quoted for the entire lifetime of "summer bees".
Conjecture only. I haven't read any research to suggest the accuracy (or otherwise).
James
I think "winter bees" is a poor name that leads to much confusion. I'd suggest that using the terms "long-lived bees" or diutinus bees would be more helpful when the concept is introduced to new beekeepers. I wouldn't be in the least surprised if bees with the same characteristics occur at other times of year because it's not the fact that "winter is coming" that stimulates their behaviour, but the lack of brood for them to feed once they emerge. I also dislike the wording that the colony "produces" such bees because to me it implies some sort of deliberate switchover rather than being part of the natural ebb and flow of brood numbers.
Two instances when I believe bees with these traits might exist at other times of year are when an emergency queen is raised and during swarming. It's clearly not the same kind of time period as the entire winter, but quite possibly as long as the figure often quoted for the entire lifetime of "summer bees".
Conjecture only. I haven't read any research to suggest the accuracy (or otherwise).
James