lets deal in facts
Polystyrene is a better insulator than wood. But that says nothing about the insulation of the cavity inside a hive or a tree nest.
Have you actually measured the thermal conductance of your assembled polystyrene hive?
Have you measured the thermal conductance of a tree nest cavity?
btw The polystyrene hive I tested was made in Finland.
First, I need not evidence because I have nursed bees over winter in poly 20 years. If I know better, what I do them? Move my bees to tree cavity?
Fine bubble polystyrene has 10 times better insulation value than solid wood. Dry wood. In the hive wood has a good moisture percentage.
It is same with plye.
I have two kind of polyboxes. Nacca is the old whi´ch has thin central "mirror".
Then new honey boxes which have the whole surface thick wall
Then I have a inner zself made inner cover. Who knows what is the insulation value.
Then I have ventilation system 1 cm x 15 cm main enrtance and upper entrance diameter 1,5 cm.
Who knows what is summa summarum...
I have used too 3 cm thick solid wood boxes. That I know that they consume 50% more
winter food than polyhives.
I tried mesh floors and they consumed 100% more winter food.
What does it means?
- if in wooden hive food store is enough 6 months, in polyhive it s 9 months. Possibility to dead outs is smaller and I can find the food stores.
The biggest advantage is in spring. When in autumn the hive consume 1 kg food in month, in Spring it consumes
4 kg in month. And then ion May 4 kg in one week when the box is full of brood.
When I started to heat hives with electrict, I found how impotrtant is the heat. Even experienced beeks do not under stand that.
I think that I have done enough to reviele out what means the heat to the hives.
Even if I know that lodge house is better for bee (but it is not) I cannot help things.
My 3 cm thick wooden times weight 9 kg per box. When I move 2-box hives to outer pastures,
the weight of hive is 16 more than polyhive.
I remember how difficult was to lift those hives to carry.
Now, polyhives are very easy. They are really good to my back.And wooden box. The weight full of honey is 45 kg and in poly 35 kg.
At the age of 65 35 kg is too much to my back bone.