From: RSBrenchley@aol.com
Date: Sun, 14 Jan 2001 08:15:28 EST
To: BiologicalBeekeeping@egroups.com
Subject: Re: A. m. m. and cell size

John Sewell writes:

> Several people have mentioned to me that the
> 'English Black' Bee was larger than Italians. Older texts I've consulted
all
> list '5 to the inch' as worker cells. Unfortunately imprecise.

This is what you'd expect in a race adapted to a harsher climate. It's
probably because a larger body loses heat more slowly, as it has a relatively
smaller surface area compared to its mass. It's so widespread that I wonder
whether a bee forced to breed in unnaturally small comb would lose some of
its adaptive advantage in the British climate. Maybe Dave will find out.

Regards,

Robert Brenchley

RSBrenchley@aol.com