hive insulation

[user 6228]

Insulation is beneficial. What level of insulation is another thing and claiming the above is not right, it would depend on the tree and the hollow for a start. Not all trees are the same.

if you want to be picky on the details read this there is a bootleg copy out there on facebook somewhere :

Mitchell, D. (2016). Ratios of colony mass to thermal conductance of tree and man-made nest enclosures of Apis mellifera: implications for survival, clustering, humidity regulation and Varroa destructor. International .Journal of Biometeorology, 60(5), 629–638. http://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-015-1057-z

 

[Finman]

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Canada has made a wide comparative research about insulating wrapping materials.

 

[Swarm]

if you want to be picky on the details read this there is a bootleg copy out there on facebook somewhere :

Mitchell, D. (2016). Ratios of colony mass to thermal conductance of tree and man-made nest enclosures of Apis mellifera: implications for survival, clustering, humidity regulation and Varroa destructor. International .Journal of Biometeorology, 60(5), 629–638. http://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-015-1057-z

Not being picky Derek, just pointing out that holes in trees and the trees themselves are too different to make sweeping statements.

 

[user 6228]

Not being picky Derek, just pointing out that holes in trees and the trees themselves are too different to make sweeping statements.

You are being picky. Pointing out the blindingly obvious that trees differ from one another is definitely being picky, pedantic and patronising. I would have thought it be safe in this audience to assume that we all knew that individuals within a distribution differ without have to state it every time. I am unfortunately disappointed in that belief Do you want me to quote the standard deviation every time? or will you then object because that would only apply if the distribution was Gaussian where as trees are Poisson?

 

[Swarm]

Or then again we could consider their other choices of accommodation but you would just call me picky and pedantic.

 

[Millet]

I close the holes in the crown board (although I've started closing them year-round now) and insulate the roof. The bees are clustered in the centre of the hive in winter so there is a fair bit of air insulation between them and the walls of the hive plus the heat they give off will cause currents in the hive that will deal with condensation, some of which will get out via the floor and some will leech into the wood and be dissipated outside on warmer days. Insulating around the outside of the wood would, IMHO, be a major contributor to condensation much as a closed greenhouse in the winter.

Try it and come back to us next year with your results.. i have done similar over the past years with one colony and it has worked fine... ..

 

[victor meldrew]

You are being picky. Pointing out the blindingly obvious that trees differ from one another is definitely being picky, pedantic and patronising. I would have thought it be safe in this audience to assume that we all knew that individuals within a distribution differ without have to state it every time. I am unfortunately disappointed in that belief Do you want me to quote the standard deviation every time? or will you then object because that would only apply if the distribution was Gaussian where as trees are Poisson?

Calm down let’s have no wars caused by over reaction !
I’ve just be through an episode myself !
It ain’t worth it !


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Beefriendly]

if you want to be picky on the details read this there is a bootleg copy out there on facebook somewhere :

You not getting the royalties?
I hate self publicity.

 

[REDWOOD]

I run both types poly and wood and I see no difference down here in the South. One thing for sure is they all have a slab of insulation under the roof. It is important to have strong colonies going into winter, probably more important than insulation

 

[oliver90owner]

I run both types poly and wood and I see no difference down here in the South. One thing for sure is they all have a slab of insulation under the roof. It is important to have strong colonies going into winter, probably more important than insulation

I would not entirely agree on no difference, but most definitely the point of strong (and healthy) colonies. Strength in springtime is favoured by well insulated homes, whether the fabric is timber or poly, but healthy bees is paramount.

That way very few bees die off during the winter - certainly not like some on here have apparently experienced in the past.

 

[itsbruce]

Not opinions: there is one scientiic paper which proves the benefits of insulation - and the author is quoted as an authority on the subject

Citing a single science paper as unquestionable authority is entirely unscientific.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_method#Confirmation

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argument_from_authority


Raising it as worthy of consideration would be reasonable.

 

[Finman]

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If a beekeeper does not understand meaning of insulation, let it be then.

If somebody comes to Finland to tell, that he has a scientic paper, which proves that insulation is good, all beekeepers will explode for laugh.

IT is easy to compare polyhives and wooden hives, which is better in practical usage.
IT has been discussed here so many times, that it is unsustainable to discus about it any more.

 

[oliver90owner]

Finny is right. It is not a matter of if, but more a matter of how much better insulation (within reasonable levelas) is over none. One only has to think of how long a winter cluster would last with no protection. OK in some climates, not so good in cooler climates and a definite colony loss in Finny’s back yard.

It only, then, requires comparing 18/19mm of timber and 30/40mm of polystyrene hives.

No rocket science required at all.

 

[Finman]

in USA Michigan university advices that use winter 3 boxes and give 50 kg sugar for food.

In Finland advice is that use 1-2 boxes and on average 20 kg sugar. They have simple wall hives.

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[user 6228]

Finny is right. It is not a matter of if, but more a matter of how much better insulation (within reasonable levelas) is over none. One only has to think of how long a winter cluster would last with no protection. OK in some climates, not so good in cooler climates and a definite colony loss in Finny’s back yard.

It only, then, requires comparing 18/19mm of timber and 30/40mm of polystyrene hives.

No rocket science required at all.

insulation is better for bees in hot climates as well ... less heat stress in summer. Research in Saudi

 

[oliver90owner]

Question: Why quote my reply when your post has b-all to do with wot I rote?

 

[itsbruce]

Finny is right.

It looks more as if he's disagreeing with you but it's hard to tell.

 

[Murox]

Even Langstroth advocated twin wall hives for insulation. Its just amazing that beeks
have continued to use single wall thin wooden boxes for all these years. Seems that only those folks living with cold winters built suitable hives. Now polystyrene is available the only real question is durability in use. Has anyone tried or have experience of Apimaye thermo hive. http://www.apimaye.co.uk/thermo-beehive.html

 

[Finman]

It looks more as if he's disagreeing with you but it's hard to tell.

Hard to tell what?

 

[Finman]

Now polystyrene is available the only real question is durability in use. ]

My oldest boxes has been labeled 1987.



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