Within-day hive weight data and associated fitted piecewise regression.

Data were obtained from a hive in the control group on 24 November 2017 during a forage dearth. 1.Point A: First weight measure at midnight or shortly thereafter; 2.Segment AB: Inactive period in the early morning; hive weight change is likely due to bee respiration and changes in the moisture content of nectar, pollen and wooden hive parts; 3.Point B: Bee departure at beginning of active period, usually close to dawn - 1st break point; 4.Segment BC: Active period usually showing hive weight loss due to far greater numbers of departing bees compared to returning bees- “departing slope”; 5.Point C: Point at which rate of hive weight loss changes, likely due to higher ratio of returning bee mass compared to departing bee mass; 6.Segment CD: Continued increase in hive weight due to forager return; 7.Point D: Point at which mass of returning foragers, including nectar and pollen as well as bee weight loss due to respiration, equals the mass of departing bees plus weight loss due to drying and respiration in the colony; 8.Segment DE: Increasing hive weight due to returning foragers; 9.Point E: Return of bees to the hive around dusk is completed–last break point; 10.Segment EF: Inactive period with hive weight change driven mainly by respiration and changes in ambient humidity–usually close to parallel with segment AB; 11.Point F: Last weight measure just before midnight.