Finman, you quote my post and then rant on unconnected issues or agree with exactly what I said, but still seem to rant.
3 weeks it is for a brood cycle (most will know that) but zero eggs layed = zero workers emerging = dwindling. The more eggs layed, the more emerging workers after that three weeks. That means with more eggs layed, the build-up must be quicker as there will be a break-even situation wher eggs layed = foragers lost after 3 weeks and with more than that a build up!
First minimum factor is number of nurser bees.
Agreed, but that number will be able to sevice differing amounts of brood dependent on other factors (such as temperatures inside and outside the hive), so that factor, while being one of them is not necessarily the first.
If pollen store ceases, the colony stops brood rearing.
We are not in disagreement! I wrote 'other requirements...adequate protein'
Frames have 10mm gaps and they insulate nothing.Air and heat escapes quickly from gaps.
Not sure that I even mentioned air gaps, but while on the subject, I agree up to a point - if these gaps are filled with workers, that air and heat is retained in the broodnest far longer than 'escaping quickly'. So we have a 'knock-on effect' more bees = more warm air retained = less heat lost qiuickly = more brooding possible = more brooding possible (3 weeks later).
Back to insulation - I remarked only that the amount of brooding might be considered as a function of the insulation value of the hive walls.
Certainly not simplistic, that is for sure. Oh, I think I said that earlier....