Earlier this year, may, I bought a italian bee package and hived it, it has been doing fine, however, I go out this morning, and check out the hive and extremely low activity, no one out on the deck sunning themselves, of course not fanning the hive/etc. they are still in there, but last night we got down to 55 F, and so they haven't heated up yet.
The thing is, all my last year italian survivors, my carniolans, and ferals, are all perfectly fine and out and about. It is now 68 outside, but the point of it all is it is hard not to argue these southern boys just don;t have the coolness in their blood yet evidently or tolerance. maybe they think its winter already, or are waiting until it gets to 75+ or something. (which will surely be quickly.) all I have is the one new hive of italians that came from down south, so does anyone else have some new flock from down south that is doing the same if it got cold last night?
I am glad it did get cold though honestly, they need a good conditioning before winter, though this isn;t it or the time really, it will hopefully help em out a bit.