BlueBee, thanks for the response and encouragement, I think the bees are doing all right. It turns out that they should not be alive, it was about 3lbs of bees from a removal with some brood comb, no honey, the remover kept that of course. this was end of August so we had no hope for wintering over, but it was hands on experience for a novice (me). I fed them, they consumed 3 lbs of sugar a day in a 1:1 syrup. and probably more than doubled in colony size, still only 7, 8 or 9 lbs of bees? When I told the gentleman that gave me the bees end of august that they were still alive early Jan. he could not believe this.
I said I have more time than I need, not really so, but being inquisitive will be the death of me, always was, and since I had the sensor need I say more.
now here is the mystery. a common observation -- today mid afternoon temp 35deg F, inside hive temp 46deg. eight hours later the outside temp has dropped to 24deg, inside hive temp has risen to 51 deg. WHAT IS WITH THIS? outside temp drops, shouldn't the temp in the hive? why are the bees raising the temperature?
any ideas anyone?