From: deelusbybeekeeper <deelusbybeekeeper@excelonline.com>
Date: Sun Dec 17, 2000 8:56pm
Subject: Re: test

Hi to all at Biological Beekeeping at egroups:

Helmut wrote below:

> Hi Dee
> I shall have to digest all this for a while.

> The more precise the measure the more
> accurate the final volume. (In a cell volume one has to omit the bottom
> prism by this method as one omits the volume of the mites and food).
> I measured roughly some cells that way and came up with : one side = 3m/m x
> 6 = 18 m/m / by 4 = 4.5 m/m x 4.5 m/m =20.25 x 11 m/m = 222.75 Qu m/m.
> Now, I have measured a bunch of cells and the depth varies , but 11 m/m
> appears to be a rough average valid figure.
> It all depends on how an accurate measurement is taken with the tools
> available for the beekeeper.

Reply:

Helmut, it is a well known fact in scientific circles, that bees always fill
cells with royal jelly to the same depth inside regardless of cell size
width or height of cells. The only thing that changes actually, is the
distance between the parallel walls, and because of this, the bees change
the composition of the jelly to adjust for the size of bee they are
creating.

Keep asking questions!

Sincerely,

Dee A. Lusby
Tucson, Arizona, USA