Date: Dec 10 2000 21:12:42 EST
From: Barry Birkey <barry@birkey.com>
Subject: Re: Queens relation to cell size

>> My question, is there a maximum range of cell size that a queen
>> can/will lay in?
>
> No, not really as pertains to both worker and drone cell size.

Dee, you infer that it's not a problem for a queen between worker and drone
cell size which makes sense to me as I figured a queen can always lay in a
larger cell size. But again, I'm more concerned about a large queen
currently on 5.6 mm cells for worker and putting her on 4.9 size worker
cells. Do I understand that she will still be quite capable to lay in these
cells? Does not the queen need to be retrogressed in size along with the
worker bees?

>> Since these queens went from laying in 5.4 mm cell size to 4.9 mm
>> cell size, I wonder if the queens had previously been on 5.6 mm
>> cell size if they would have any problem using the 4.9 size.
>
> No, not really. Queens and bees shaken down onto drawnout comb
> of 4.9 size having previously layed in 5.6 mm size brood combs would
> have no problem laying in the smaller size if no other size is available
> and presented to her.

So the abdomen of a queen must always be smaller in diameter than 4.8 - 4.9mm, regardless of race or age for this to be true, right? Anyone wishing to
regress there existing bees to 4.9 cell size will have no problem doing so
with whatever breed of queen they have?

Regards,

Barry