Yes apis is right for insulation, he told me that he was losing about 70% if hives in winter but using those starting 5 yrs. ago he's down to about 20% to 30%, the reason they look cockeyed is because there wide enough to slip down past the cleat handles and over tele. top .
He's the McDowell County beekeepers president, he's a retired geologist and started beekeeping 16 yrs. ago using local Russian and doesn't treat, said that was the reason for not trying Italians. He has 28 hives and pulled 600 lbs. of sourwood honey this yr. the supers you see are wet , he's been pulling them after they're cleaned I asked if he sprays cleaned super frames with BT. he said he doesn't use any chemicals. We had a good time ,he showed us his 5 yrs. old sourwood tree that he planted from transplants, very smart gentleman, oh yea by the way he took us in his workshop (lab) where he has started doing the honey pollen count with centrifuge then puts on slides under microscope to determine exactly what pollen is in the honey, he said there's only one place that does this Texas A&M bee lab , said he knows the Dr. their said his name but my small brain could only soak in so much so can't remember his (Dr.) name.
