tar paper

[lee]

is tar paper a  good thing to rap around hives. or will it make them get to hot. on a sunny winter day.

[BEE C]

As I understand it, tar paper has no insulating value other than warming the hives up on a sunny day.  I've been told it doesn't hold heat in very well and from what I understand Michigan winters get pretty cold.

[Michael Bush]

I've only wrapped once with tar paper and was not pleased with the constant wet hives from the condensation.  The purpose is to get the solar gain and warm them up so they can get in more cleansing flights and more rearranging of stores as the winter progresses.