Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-12-07
prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture)

prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Agricultural
The beekeepers of the United
States lose at least One-tenth OF their
colonies of bees every winter. This
is minimum loss, which is frequent
ly increased to one-half and sometimes
more in certain sections. This de-
crease is largely due to carelessness or
to lack of knowledge, and 1T is entire
" practical to reduce it to less than
one per cent, the small loss covering
various accidents which cannot be fore
seen. An industry which can survive
in the face of such decrease must
have great possibilities for CONNER
cial advancement when the loss Is
properly reduced.
The causes of the death Of individ-
ual bees or of colony Of bees In win
ter. barring unusual accidents, are only
two in number: U Inadequate stores
and (2) excessive heat production.
The numerous factors usually given
in the literature on the subject as en-
tirely distinct fall into these two
classes, except for some that are usu-
ally given which the authors do not be-
lieve to be operative.
Excessive Heat Generation.
It was first shown by specialists of
the United States department of agri-
culture that at hive temperatures be-
tween 81 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit, a
normal broodless colony Of bees does
not form a cluster. but the bees re-
main inactive on the combs. When the
temperature Of the air Immediately
surrounding the bees mot the tenn
perature of the air outside the hive)
falls to 81 degrees Fahrenheit or low
er, they fom a cluster and those In
the center begin to generate heat by
muscular activity, while those In the
outer portion serve as insulators by
crowding close together, usually with
their heads toward the center Of the
cluster. The innermost portion rapid
" acquires q temperature consider
ably higher than that of the air about
the bees before clustering was neces-
sary, often going to 80 degrees Fab
renheit In normal colonies and higher
in abnormal ones. The number Of bees
engaged in heat production increases
as the outer temperature falls and the
insulating zone is consequently de-
creased In thickness but becomes more
compact. The entire cluster becomes
smaller as the outer temperature falls,
Necessity Of Packing.
II bees can be kept in an environ.
ment such that the temperature Of the
air Immediately surrounding them IL
81 degrees Fahrenheit, or slightly
above. they are saved much unneces
sary and improbable labor. To the
theoretical objection that bees need
exercise, 1t Is necessary only to state
that the authors have so wintered bees
in a cellar as well as outdoors witt
wonderfully successful results. II bee:
are kept in a cellar under the bes
conditions the results are excellent
but it is not proposed to discuss thi!
more complicated phase OF the sub
ject here. II wintered outside In
packing case with abundant insula
ton, any heat generated escapes slow
" and the temperature Of the air II
the hive rarely falls below IS degrees
Fahrenheit. II infrequently protect
ed, the temperature Of the hive can
not be kept so high and the bees mus
generate much more heat. In single
walled hives 1t Is common for the TEN
perature of the air around the cluste
to fall to freezing or lower, In whicl
event the bees generate an excessive
amount of heat and perhaps die whel
they are no longer capable Of tn
necessary muscular activity. The ne
cessity of packing Is thus made clear
and in any locality In which the QUITE
temperature often falls to 40 degree
Fahrenheit, or below, it is desir
able to protect bees TO conserv
their vitality. If the temperatur
should fall to 40 degrees Fahrenheit
only q few times during the winter
this would not be serious enough t
make insulation necessary.
Accumulation of Feces.
Heat generation causes increase
consumption of stores; this in tur
causes an accumulation of feces witt
in the bees, which is more rapid if tn
stores contain high percentage Q
indigeStible materials, and the pre-:
ence of feces causes increased actiN
ity, often resulting in the death fror
excessive heat generation. Becker
ers call this condition dysentery if tn
accumulation is so excessive that tn
bees are unable TO retain the fece
Dysentery causes the death of bee
in winter, so far as has been seel
solely by undue activity and excessiv
= heat production. This detrimental e
feet is reduced by good stores, but oil
viously the proper method is to pre-
: vent an unnecessary accumulation {
feces by preventing heavy consuml