Minus 18 C. 0 deg.F... bone chilling temp...Bees still out?

[Konrad]

Have checked the hives today...

One of the two hives, bees still lurking outside....would think they should be all inside clustering, good or bad?

Konrad

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c97/fruitnut_/Honeybee/IMG_0754.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c97/fruitnut_/Honeybee/IMG_0780.jpg

[Robert Hawkins]

Yep, Some themometer this AM and same bees. What's goin on?

Hawk

[George Fergusson]

I was up putting mouse guards on my hives this weekend, nice day, sunny, about 33 degrees F in the sun, but no ice melting in the shade. An occassional bee would leave a hive, take a turn around the apiary, and return. When stapling on the screens, 6-8 bees immediately came to investigate, and I got head butted a few times. There were bees evident at times at the entrances of all the hives.

George-

[power napper]

Hey Konrad, what type of wrap are you using on the hive, it sure looks like plastic?

[Konrad]

Thank you all!

>>what type of wrap are you using on the hive, it sure looks like plastic?

Here is a pic from another time, 1" or 1 1/2" thick?..[not sure anymore] Styrofoam inside garbage bag, tied to 2 1/2 deep. The 3rd deep, [empty] has some fiberglass insulation inside.
Saran wrap on top, so rain and melted snow can run down the outside better.
Konrad

front & side view
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c97/fruitnut_/Honeybee/DSC00219.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c97/fruitnut_/Honeybee/DSC00234.jpg

[Will K]

Konrad- Did you leave the empty box wrapped seperately for spring feeding purposes?
I can't believe you don't have snow yet!

[Konrad]

>>Did you leave the empty box seperately wrapped for spring feeding purposes?


Yes, for feeding,[on top of the inner cover, hole] fall & spring, the syrup keeps it warmer inside, the box also is used now for insulation
on top of two deeps.

>>I can't believe you don't have snow yet!

We just got a light dusting of snow, perhaps an inch.

Konrad

[Kieck]

A few bees in one of my hives apparently bothered to drag out several dead bees a couple days ago. Actual temperature reached 1F on that day, and I doubt the bees went far, but they did manage to drag the carcasses out onto the landing board.

[Dick Allen]

Seems I saw on the weather report the other day it was -40º F somewhere down there in middle America. It was 40º F up here in Anchorage today too--that is 40º ABOVE zero. hehehe

[Konrad]

After this cold spill, it's house cleaning time!
....and sunbathing.
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c97/fruitnut_/Honeybee/_MG_1373.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c97/fruitnut_/Honeybee/BEE.jpg