(It doesn't matter.) Interesting concept. Is that the same as "It doesn't matter to me"?
I'll suggest (for me) that it does matter for a number of small reasons. Each person should determine if its worth it to them.
1) Yes, there is a reason why queen producers paint their nucs different colors and place them in a random fashion. Because queens do in fact sometimes get confused. And if they land on the wrong entrance, they will be killed. I suppose you could suggest that your good enough to never have a hive swarm or supercede without your knowledge, which of course I would snicker, as most would.
Sure, do some need to have the hives palletized. And so hives are naturally kept next to each other for some beekeepers. But if your not moving hives for migratory needs, why have them slid up against each other?
2)There is considerable drift, not only in regards to drones, but with workers also. Seperation of hives taking into account this drift will have a couple of things to keep in mind.
Drifting bees are normally not challenged if they are foragers bringing back nectar and pollen. Bees coming straight into the hive are usually not challenged. Gaurd bees see bees heavy with a load, unwavering in their approach, and give a pass for entry. Not always, but usually. Bees on orientation flights, discharging waste, and other flights, may not be so lucky. The more a hive feels challenged, the more defensive they can become. This adds to the agressiveness of the hive in dealing with another hive slid right up next to the next.
3)If a hive does develope some problems with afb, or another desease, I want time to react and take care of the problem. With spacing, the desease transfer between hives can be at a slower rate due to less drifting, etc. I would rather have problems go through an apiary on a slow rate, rather than whole apiaries being effected much faster.
4) I just feel better working hives seperated. I have more room and do less reaching, bending, and stumbling over whatever. If a hive is a little bothered, I can work the next hive and one hive does not set off the next. I think its much more enjoyable for whatever reason to have hives at least a few feet in seperation.
Unless there is a reason or need for the hives to be palletized, I see no benefit of having them slid together, except for wintering. Which I do not do for full size hives anyways.
In the wild, hives are seperated by natural habitat. Few colonies would be next to each other on a scale we keep bees. We assume bees can always find the right entrance. Bees never needed this precise ability in the wild.
Less drift, less challenged or defensive bees, easier to work, slower desease transfer. I could say "it does matter" but will say instead, "it matters to me." You decide for yourself.
[ February 19, 2007, 07:02 AM: Message edited by: BjornBee ]