NOVEMBER 15. 1914 



908 



atures were read to fifths of a degree, and 

 weighings made to 10 g. Every alteration 

 or manipulation of the colony was recorded. 

 Hourly changes in the weather and activity 

 of the bees were also noted. 



It was not possible from the readings to 

 detect any relation or rhythm in the con- 

 sumption of stores to changes in tempera- 

 ture due to metabolism. Nevertheless, sev- 

 eral significant facts concerning the con- 

 sumption of winter stores were discovered. 



The rate of consumption of stores exhibits 

 a relatively constant decrease from month to 

 month. Consumption, however, slackened 

 as the season progi'essed. 



Humidity was a factor which noticeably 

 influenced daily results. Although conden- 

 sation tended to prevent a drop, or even to 

 raise daily readings, the increase in weight 

 could neither be permanent nor affect the 

 total results; as whatever water condensed 

 during bad weather would evaporate during 

 the following days of fair weather. Conse- 

 quently the records of a single day are less 

 significant than the averages of a month or 

 of the season. 



While the average daily consumption for 

 November was 53.2 g., the average for Feb- 

 ruary was but 30 g. daily. The average for 

 the entire winter was 43.5 g. daily. Wliile 

 these are the figures for average consump- 

 tion, no such degree of constancy existed 

 between daily readings. The fact is, a daily 

 variation in weight all the way from a los.s 

 of 130 g. in some cases, to an increase of 40 

 g. in others, actually existed. 



Some interesting observations were made 

 upon the cluster which are significant. Dur- 

 ing the winter the bees are relatively qui it; 

 the cluster expands, and the bees fly only on 

 the warmest days. The heat maintained in 

 the cluster has a general relation to the pre- 

 vailing temperature of the air; but it was 

 obsei-^'ed that the temperature at the center 

 of the cluster increased as the outside tem- 

 perature decreased, due to the crowding 

 together of the bees in cold weather. The 

 curves made from the readings show that 

 the maximum temperature within the cluster 

 occurs practically simultaneously with the 

 minimum outside, and vice versa, except in 

 March, when, with the commencement of 

 egg-laying, the temperature of the brood 

 cluster became more and more constant. At 

 all times the cluster was very sensitive to 

 changes in the external air, responding 

 readily and readjusting itself quickly so as 

 to keep at a temperature ranging from C2.6 

 F., the lowest, up to 91.76 F., the highest. 

 Contrary to what might be expected, the 

 cluster thei-mometers reached their maxima 

 and minima later than the outside thermom- 



eter; but seldom, and only in severe weath- 

 er, when changes were rapid and consider- 

 able. It might be inferred that the relation 

 of the maxima and minima of the tempera- 

 ture of the center of the cluster to the out- 

 side temj^erature might be due to a " lag " 

 or delay. For instance, corresponding to the 

 minimum of the outside temperature on the 

 4th of February, the minimum of the clus- 

 ter temperature came nine hours later. If 

 this was due to delay or " lag," maxima and 

 minima are in some cases delayed twentj'- 

 four hours or more. But this cannot be, 

 because there are many minor variations 

 which appear on the curves, and which are 

 synchronous. 



Thorough comparison of the charts failed 

 to provide suitable material for conclusions 

 as to the cause of the " lag," as the experi- 

 mental colony furnished no data for a con- 

 sideration of humidity and condensation; 

 and the factors of convection, radiation, and 

 conduction cannot be conceived as slow 

 enough to retard the cluster temperature 

 from nine to twenty-four hours, nor would 

 it account for its minor synchronous varia- 

 tion. 



It was found that opening, manipulating, 

 or in any way disturbing the hive, would 

 cause a corresponding temporary rise in 

 temperature. 



In regard to the behavior of the bees in 

 the cluster, we will quote from the author 

 concerning the apparent interchange of bees 

 from the inside to the outside of the cluster. 



As the writer watched the cluster, the head of a 

 bee would ^adually appear from below the bees 

 forming the shell of the cluster. Finally this bee 

 emerg:ed and took her place with the others on the 

 outside. Similarly bees were frequently seen to dis- 

 appear into the mass. The behavior was in no way 

 general, but apparently was going on constantly and 

 gradually. The phenomenon was repeatedly observ 

 ed under all manner of conditions and at different 

 times of day and night. By carefully arranging the 

 covers, .so that it was unnecessary to remove theni. 

 and thus cause a jar, it was proven that this be- 

 havior is normal, and not the result of a disturb 

 ance of the bees. It must be concluded, therefore, 

 that in this way the same bees may not be exposed 

 to the outside cold for a long period. So long as 

 they are able to keep up their own body temperature 

 they remain outside; but when chilled they pass into 

 the interior. 



One fact which might be of interest to 

 beekeepers is that the thermometer situated 

 below the bottom of the frames and cluster 

 registered almost iaentieally with the out- 

 side thermometer at all times, both on the 

 colde-st and warmest days, which showed 

 that throughout the season the temperature 

 below the frames was practically the same 

 as that of the outside air. 



The transition within the hive from winter 

 to summer conditions was accomplished in 



