From: Joe Waggle <joe9360@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 5 Jan 2002 07:14:47 -0800 (PST)
To: BiologicalBeekeeping@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: The proper way to calculate temps bees fly?

> the one outwardly sign I always had that they were still alive was the
> melted snow on the lids. This alone doesn't prove or disprove this 12 degree
> increase, but it does say that the bees generate heat in the dead of winter

Hello All,

Curious, I checked a hive on a calm 25F. day. I slid
a probe thermometer thru the top foam insulation that
I placed directly on top of the second hive body. I'm
wintering some hives with 2" foam insulation and no
upper vent, as an experiment and I had expected a
higher temp inside, but the temp right at the top was
only about 30F. Bees do generate heat inside the
hive, but I was surprised to find how little heat
actually escapes the cluster.

Regards,
Joe Waggle - Derry Pennsylvania, USA