bee_folk | Nestduftwärmebindung defined (Reply)

Translated directly from German: Nest scent heat trapping. First described by Johann Thur as a "sauna" of anti-microbial propolis:

During overwintering with no brood, the average temperature of the middle of the cluster is 22–25ºC (~71 - 77°F). In contrast, the normal brood temperature is 34–35ºC (~93 - 95°F). . . But the average air temperature is well below these limits. Brood and bees are essentially without their own bodily warmth. The difference between the temperature of the air and that required by the bees has to be produced by the bees themselves throughout the entire year, summer and winter. Their fuel is honey which they have to consume greatly in excess of their bodily needs in order to produce heat. For example, in accommodation with enclosed natural comb, the winter consumption in the six months from 1 October to 1 April comprises about 2 kilograms, whereas in the conventional, heat-dissipating framed hives, 6 to 8 kg or more are needed. This excess consumption within six months of, on average, 5 kg per colony is purely excess consumption in maintaining the very essential minimum temperature.

(Now, consider your own home throughout the year without air conditioning or heat).

Framed hives destroy it.

". . .as a result of the spaces between the combs being open on all sides, the nest scent and heat escapes, and with it the germ free, disease-inhibiting scent-substances. The honey supers situated above multiply the wastage of the nest scent and heat. Each time they are extended more is wasted. And when on top of that the hive is opened, the nest scent and heat floods out. Certainly in naturally constructed nests – for example in hollow tree trunks – there is comb a metre long on occasion, but never empty honeycomb above the brood."

Also, my camera is broken and that makes me feel like an amputee.