From: "deelusbybeekeeper" <deelusbybeekeeper@excelonline.com>
Date: Sun, 17 Jun 2001 18:03:38 -0700
To: <BiologicalBeekeeping@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: Re: 49ers

Hi to all on Biological Beekeeping

Chris wrote:

> I looked through my hive of 49ers today and compared it with the conventional
> one alongside. The 49 is not using all the brood box whereas the other is
> wall to wall. Yet the 49 hive seems to have more bees and has gathered about
> 25% more honey>

Reply:

This is very good to hear Chris! This is exactly what should have happened.
It takes more room with bigger workercomb cells vs less space with smaller,
so the bees have more room for other things. As they get ready for fall this
should help in them getting better prepared for overwintering.

I am glad they are making you more honey. With more bees generated in less
space you have 5 small natural bees to 4 larger bees approx, which means
more workers for gathering. Also by being smaller they will fit more natural
flora the bigger ones cannot get into for stores to bring home, which means
more sources available for honey and pollen, and thus better diversity of
diet for healther bodies.

It is nice to know they are doing fine.

> The 49 has quite a lot of drone comb. I know you remove frames with more
> than 10% drone. Is this to reduce breeding places for varroa or to ensure
> maximum worker production?

Reply:

Actually it is fourfold: As you correctly state it reduces breeding places
for varroa while at the same time ensuring maximum worker production for
gathering stores for both the bees and yourself for resale. But it also
helps to trigger chewing out of varroa during broodnest change over periods
of cleansing, periodically throughout the year as honey flows phase in and
out, and brooding cycles phase up and down i.e. turn on in the spring,
spring to fall change over, requeening change over, etc. Another thing
culling to 10% levels does, is stimulate the bees to carry more drones with
earlier production and later production, so you have a more constant supply
on hand for matings, besides a longer mating season

best regards

Dee