And finally - I've quoted him many times in the past but for those new to the forum: Bill Bielby - a great and innovative Yorkshire beekeeper in his book (Published in 1972 ) Home Honey Production - at a time when 'keep'em cold' was the 'norm' said:
Page 43
"Losses of heat mean losses of honey;
thus, good insulation of hives is
essential. Through air currents carry
away heat and neutralise the benefits
of insulation. Just like every other
animal, the well-being of bees depends
on warmth and comfort, protection from
the elements and an adequate supply of
food. "
and Page 44
"For most economical wintering, hives
should be highly insulated and com-
pletely draughtproof . "
I've just been reading a freshly published, academic paper which, after all this time, says all of the above things and more.
The study found that the increased humidity in a well insulated hive in which the air was always kept above the dewpoint, proved disadvantageous to varroa.
Excess moisture was removed in the colder air which, being heavier than warm air, fell below the open floor. In a ventilated hive it leaves the hive in warmer air which rises from the top.
The report even questioned whether clustering was actually a necessity or just an undesirable response that cold bees must make to their environment.
Before bees became my latest obsession I had a period when Barn Owls were high on my list. Our house is named after them and young owls are raised every year in a box in our garden. Like bees, barn owls are reaching their northern limit up here and actually prefer warmer climates. So without the presence of humans and their structures and sometimes their active assistance, barn owls would struggle to exist...it's not easy for them anyway and winter kills off a lot of them...sound familiar? The point is, knowing the precariousness of life for these creatures in winter, why wouldn't we do our best to make them comfortable?
There's a strange contradiction in that the argument, ie. "we can't just let nature take its course and avoid pre-emptive treatments for bee pests and diseases" is turned on its head by some people when it comes to keeping them warm in the winter, "let nature take its course, cold is good for them."
