Since installing the Arnia hive monitors two weeks ago the following reassuring data has come in.
Click it for a close up:
So what does this tell us?
Well it tells me I don’t have to worry just yet. Here’s why:
Indoors
Before the 7th March all of this kit was in here, in the house with me where I could look at it and try and get my head round it.
The Hive Scale monitor – khaki line – was in the conservatory while the other monitor and the Gateway unit was mainly in the kitchen where the mobile signal is strongest.
In both rooms the temperature rises during the day and falls during the night. The differences between them should tell you that the conservatory is warmer than the kitchen – and it is. Except when I’m cooking in the evening which is where the temperatures recorded by the monitors in the kitchen peak and cross the khaki line. On days when this didn’t happen and the temperature in the kitchen remained below that of the conservatory even in the evenings – I was probably in the pub instead of cooking.
Outdoors
During the 7th March everything was moved outside for a trial run before introducing it to the bees. As you can see, the temperature recorded by all the units plummeted from mid-day onwards on the 7th as they spent the night together in the garden. For a brief period there, you can contrast the temperature in my house to the temperature outside – 3 or 4 degrees difference in the night time troughs only.
Bees
On the 8th I installed everything into one of my apiaries.
The data tells us several things:
- The brood nest temperature of both hives is around 34 degrees so each of the colonies has a nest full of brood and a laying queen – probably;
- One hive is recording a slightly higher temperature. Either I’ve got the probe slightly off centre or there is an anomaly with one of the monitors;
- Remarkably, the bees keep their brood nests at a near constant 34 degrees despite the peaks and troughs in the ambient temperature, despite both being on open mesh floors;
- The insides of both hives are very much warmer than my house – even when I’m cooking.
Stores
The black line is the Hive Scale showing the weight of stores. When I installed it I know that hive was good and heavy – so as long as there is no dramatic dip in that line I shouldn’t need to worry about stores. However, it is March, they have a good queen and they will be turning stores into larvae and bees. As soon as the temperatures improve I will have to go and check them.
Theft
Arnia monitors will also send alerts if hives are moved either by thieves or overturned by animals or weather. I have received no alerts so can assume all is well up there.
Conclusions
- I know that both of my monitored hives have laying queens and functioning brood nests. I can only guess about the others at this time of the year before I have begun my inspections;
- I know that the bees with the Hive Scale are doing well for stores;
- I know that neither of those two hives have been either knocked over or stolen. I can only guess about the bees at other apiaries;
- I know the the bees in both of the monitored hives are much warmer than I am right now.
Click here for How to Set up your Arnia Monitors
Click here for How Install your Arnia Monitors
Click here for more about Remote Bee Hive Monitoring and applications
Click here for a video overview of the Basic Hive Scale
Click here for video instructions on how to assemble your Basic Scale
Click here for How to Make your own Scale Hive
Click here for Bees, Honey and a Scale Hive
Click here for Remote Hive Monitoring Action
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