Insulation and broodlessness

[Erichalfbee]

It's not, I will.

In one brief sentence and then I'll shut up........some people seem to like the idea of extended periods of broodlessness, so maybe you get more winter reproduction of varroa in an insulated hive?

I have read people here who have both wood and poly that in their experience the wooden hives are ahead at first inspection ( but that the poly overtake them pretty quickly). If that is the case then, no

 

[pargyle]

It's not, I will.

In one brief sentence and then I'll shut up........some people seem to like the idea of extended periods of broodlessness, so maybe you get more winter reproduction of varroa in an insulated hive?

Doesn't appear so to me .....perhaps the higher humidity levels you find in highly insulated hives inhibit rather than promote increased levels of varroa ...?

 

[user 20297]

Doesn't appear so to me .....perhaps the higher humidity levels you find in highly insulated hives inhibit rather than promote increased levels of varroa ...?

I agree that's probably true and a useful answer.

 

[Ian123]

I don't know whether that is always the case .... my experience with poly hives compared to timber, uninsulated, hives used by other people in my area is that my bees do tend to fly when other bees are still clustered and the build up appears to start earlier. It's something that I don't have empiric research to support but I know that other users of well insulated poly hives have the same view.

There's an interesting critique of Poly hives here ...

https://www.beehivesupplies.co.uk/PDF/Polystyrene Beehives Key Facts.pdf

I sure it’s not always the case as you say after all bees will be bees and do the utmost to confuse us. I’m pretty sure I posted Spring this year regarding some early inspections. Poly Nucs had started laying later and this is consistent with many previous years. Larger hives appeared closer in time frame. However people must remember insulation will work both ways. Bees are opportunistic and will happily take advantage of the suns heat. I don’t think the articles interesting he’s just quoted the normal, I don’t think he’s checking or doing anything out the ordinary. Quoting ITLD bees in wood respond quicker to the environment!! But then are outperformed by poly. So it’s not just me that’s noticed As to best time for treating I find the NBU often calls early, I’ve always done it Xmas holidays early Jan.

 

[pargyle]

I sure it’s not always the case as you say after all bees will be bees and do the utmost to confuse us. I’m pretty sure I posted Spring this year regarding some early inspections. Poly Nucs had started laying later and this is consistent with many previous years. Larger hives appeared closer in time frame. However people must remember insulation will work both ways. Bees are opportunistic and will happily take advantage of the suns heat. I don’t think the articles interesting he’s just quoted the normal, I don’t think he’s checking or doing anything out the ordinary. Quoting ITLD bees in wood respond quicker to the environment!! But then are outperformed by poly. So it’s not just me that’s noticed As to best time for treating I find the NBU often calls early, I’ve always done it Xmas holidays early Jan.

Well I'm not going to disagree ... and I've seen ITLD say that as well ... perhaps because I have a super of kingspan on top of my paynes polys they are super insulated and the bees are able to regulate the temperature regardless of the ambient temperature outside they are already warm enough to brood without the warming influence of the sun ? Who knows ? I sometimes think that bees were put on this planet for the sole purpose of confusing beekeepers !

 

[Murox]

Doesn't appear so to me .....perhaps the higher humidity levels you find in highly insulated hives inhibit rather than promote increased levels of varroa ...?

I agree that's probably true and a useful answer.

I recently read a paper suggesting just that - Ive lost track of which one as Ive been delving into quite a few - Ill put a link if I can find it again.

 

[Murox]

Managed to find the stuff I was looking at - you can have a general read here. The Honey Bee Suite and follow the references. The main paper by Kraus is here. Its old stuff now.

 

[pargyle]

Managed to find the stuff I was looking at - you can have a general read here. The Honey Bee Suite and follow the references. The main paper by Kraus is here. Its old stuff now.

Yes ... good article and the bit that talks about the opposing views of mite management is a well balanced piece:

https://www.honeybeesuite.com/opposing-views-of-mite-management-data-vs-date/

 

[Gilberdyke John]

I recently read a paper suggesting just that - Ive lost track of which one as Ive been delving into quite a few - Ill put a link if I can find it again.

If memory serves me correctly I think Derek Mitchell quoted humidity as a factor in Varroa reproduction rates.

 

[Murox]

If memory serves me correctly I think Derek Mitchell quoted humidity as a factor in Varroa reproduction rates.

Yes he did , its mentioned in the attached pdf.