question about temps and top entrance

[Hi-Tech]

I have a hive that is kicking butt this year and with the golden rod in full bloom they are busy as, well, busy as bees!

This hive has a top entrance and because of the flow and the amount of bees congesting the entrance, I put a short 3/4 piece of wood under the front lip of the top cover to make a good front entrance up there while the flow is on. Basically the whole front is an entrance the entire width of the front and the sides are open but taper back to the back. This hive is I deep and 4 mediums tall and has and absolute ton of bees. No robbing problems going on that I can tell.

Here's my question. The temps are still in the 80's during the day but are getting into the 50's at night. Am I letting too much heat out at night with such a large top entrance?

[BeeMaster2]

At those temps, i would say no. I say that because I have removed open air hives that swarmed in early march and grew from a base ball size swarm to larger than a football in 2 months and the temps were lower than that at night.
Hopefully Michael will chip in, he mainly uses top entrances and has more experience with them.
Jim

[Hi-Tech]

Basically, this is what the hive looks like now from the side

[KeyLargoBees]

I would trade you some of these sultry 78 degree lows with 90% humidity for a night or two of 50's.....Summer is getting really old...I am ready for a cold front ;-)

[Eric Bosworth]

I would trade you some of these sultry 78 degree lows with 90% humidity for a night or two of 50's.....Summer is getting really old...I am ready for a cold front ;-)

I tell people here who complain about the snow all winter that if they don't like the weather they could move south. Perhaps if you don't like the weather of south Florida you could move north?

[mtnb]

Basically, this is what the hive looks like now from the side

I've seen these described and this is how I pictured it. But it makes me wonder, don't a lot of foreign insects get in with it open like that, or do the bees defend that open space? I can see where it would be good for ventilation.

[KeyLargoBees]

I wouldn't trade it for the world Eric...I grew up in Colo Springs....and NY for a time as an adult....I know winter...and I know I don't like it :-) I will take the Keys any day....just with 9 months of summer there is always that anticipation of walking outside and feeling the air change for the first time.....3 more weeks or so...we typically get a teaser about the third week of October.