From: Dennis MM Murrell <hvgjun@juno.com>
Date: Wed, 5 Sep 2001 20:20:50 -0600
To: BiologicalBeekeeping@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: Alaskan Beekeeping

Lea asked:

Light yellow, very good. Dark brown, very bad." Is that yellow color
coming from plants around the beeyard? Why is light yellow very good and
dark brown very bad?

Hello Lea and Everyone,

After almost seven months of confinement indoors, the bees needed a
cleansing flight. The amount and the character of the waste contained in
the abdomen of the bee is a good indicator of the health of the bee.

I have over wintered bees both indoors and outdoors in Wyoming and
Alaska. Both of these areas have climates with very dry winters. I have
found that "water balance" is the most critical factor that stresses bees
in these climates in the winter. Some of the factors affecting the water
balance in the hive include the length of confinement, quality of food
stores, cluster size, water availability from condensation, etc.

Two articles entitled "Rethinking Our Ideas About the Winter Cluster" by
Bernhard Mobus in the July and August editions of the American Bee
Journal, 1998. He devised a series of tests that demonstrate the
importance of water during the winter.

A dark brown, stiff waste indicated the bees hadn't over wintered very
well. A large proportion would be lost during the cleansing flight as
they lacked vigor and often could not get back to the hive after voiding
their waste. Cluster sizes would be smaller and brood rearing would be
slower.

A lighter yellow, more liquid waste indicated the bees had less stress
during the winter. They could easily void it and more bees returned to
the hives during the initial flights. They were more vigorous and
healthy. With the larger clusters they could rear more brood and easily
surpassed the more stressed hives.

With indoor wintering water balance is much more important. There is very
little condensation inside the hive. Lots of dead, very dehydrated bees
in front of the hives indicate too little moisture, a very common indoor
wintering problem.

I now winter outdoors and include a division board feeder filled with
water from January till May. A Plexiglass inner cover was used to observe
condensation and water usage. A normal hive can consume 3 quarts of water
in a couple of days and then not touch the water for several weeks. Their
consumption reflects their need and did not necessarily correspond to
warm weather or flight days.

Lea, do you winter indoor or outside in the far north or in a severe
climate? What are observations?

Best Wishes
Dennis