The15thMemberWhat I doubt is that the bees were 16F themselves, because if they were they'd be dead.
The bees on the outer edge of the hive were most definitely exposed to 16 degrees and below freezing for weeks at a time as we now both agree. How long will the cold blooded bee on 'insulation duty' lay dormant as a shield of insulation with sixteen degrees F howling on them while clinging too and 'protecting' the outer cluster? I do not know. Long enough for the bee to die? No? Long enough for the mite too die? I do 'not' know? I do not think anyone else knows either as of yet?
Do mites disengage from their host bee, (which is their single source of shelter and food) while the bee is slowly 'creeping' to the outer cluster for cluster duty? Then attach to another bee for food and shelter? Damaging yet another bee as well? I do not know as of yet, I do not think anyone else does either. How long does it take for the rotation cycle to make a completed rotation? From cluster duty bee then back to the center of the cluster then back again? Again I do not know. These questions along with the other good questions you ask can only be answered with scientific study, experimentation, and research.. So far can we agree?
We 'do know' my hive did not die. Even though they had every logical excuse to die according to 'Hunan reasoning and logic'. We are not speaking of human logic here, We are speaking of nature and its laws, rules and logic.
I think we both can agree that this is an experiment that may well be worth conducing by some University or Institution? IF one has not already been conducted? So where does it leave We two bee friends and class mates? Lol
Where does this leave
TheHoneyPumps', (good suggestion of possible cold to control varroa destructor? I again do not know until research has been conducted on this matter. Its only a theory until proven other wise.
The only thing my little experiment did prove is; Bees can, will, and have survived in my weather conditions as described above in other replies, which to 'me' seem extreme for a bee to survive. My area of last winters weather, in my humble opinion is a place of a happy medium. I also think this hive surviving is a good foundation of groundwork for a researcher to at least take a look? That is if one is interested enough and so inclined to do so? If the experiment is done outdoors, the further North the experiment the better, up to a point, as the extended exposed temperatures can be easily monitored and controlled with just a little imagination in the process by placing the hive indoors with a controlled temperature setting. (Open windows and doors when feasible and (fossil fuel controlled)
when not.
These questions that you and I are asking are added reasons why this may make an interesting research paper for someone in that field. On these things can we agree?
Thanks,
Phillip