From: "Dave Cushman" <dave.cushman@lineone.net>
Date: Fri, 12 Jan 2001 16:27:51 -0000
To: <BiologicalBeekeeping@egroups.com>
Subject: Re: Queencell cups

Hi All

----- Original Message -----
From: John Sewell <lucindajohn@sewellhome.freeserve.co.uk>

> If I decide to use wax starter cups what diameter should I make them for
my
> biological colonies?

If you refer to the texts that were written 1900ish then the concensus was
5/16" dowel with a hemispherical domed end dipped to 3/8" initially with
subsequent dips to lesser depth the last dip being 5/16".

About 25 years ago Steve Taber conducted tests using precisly blown glass
cell cups and he came to the conclusion that 9 mm dia and 9 mm deep were
correct for the bees that he was using.

I consider the results Steve obtained are a manifestation of the overlarge
foundation in use at the time of his tests. I do not doubt the accuracy of
Steve's work but I think if it had been carried out about 1900 or earlier
then his results would have aligned with the old texts.

I made measurements of all the types of plastic cellcup about a year ago and
came to the conclusion that all of the modern cups would be unsuitable for
use with 4.9 bees because they were 8.5 mm or up to 9 mm in dia. I therefore
decided that I would make a multi prong former for dipping some 8 mm dia x
8.5 mm deep cups I have been on the lookout for a piece of beech to make up
the dipping sticks ever since but have not yet found a suitable piece.

All the wax cups that I used to use were made in a silicone rubber mould
similar to modern candle moulds but I have not used wax cups for many years
and did not include them in my survay.

I dropped off typing this text and sliced one of these wax cups in half to
measure it more accurately.

I was originally decieved by the wall thickness and taper, now that I see
the profile it is an 8 mm rim with a tapering internal shape that ends in a
7 mm hemisphere. Having found this I will use some with full confidence that
they will be suitable for 4.9 mm cellsize bees. Thank you John...Without
your message I would not have discovered this and would have gone to the
trouble of making a new jig unnessessarily.

No doubt a swap rate can be worked out John.

Best Regards Dave Cushman