The Effects Of Hive Color And Feeding On The Size Of Winter Clusters OfRussian Honey Bee Colonies

摘要

This study determined the effects of hive color (black or white) and its interaction with feeding on colony growth of Russian colonies through the winter. One hundred and forty two colonies with pure-mated Russian queens were established. One half ofthem were in hives painted white and one half of them were in hives painted black. One half of each group was given only one gallon of sugar syrup to help assure survival. One other half of each group was continuously fed a small trickle of sugar syrupand pollen substitute from mid-November to mid-February. Colonies that were fed throughout the winter wSre 2.8 frames of bees larger than colonies that were minimally fed (Fed: 8.6 frames of bees, Minimally fed: 5.8 frames of bees). There was no difference in the size of colonies that were housed in black hives (7.3 frames of bees) and colonies that were in white hives (7.1 frames of bees).