From: Micky Lee <mlee4321@juno.com>
Date: Sun, 18 Mar 2001 09:48:33 -0600
To: BiologicalBeekeeping@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Cell size/Queen size

With all things in nature there is variation. To get a measurement of
4.9 in bee produced comb you must measure a hundred or so cells and take
an average.

With a hundred years of raising bees on oversize comb, if allowed to,
bees will still build comb with an average cell size of 4.9. And, if
given a choice any queen of European extraction will use it. All queens
are raised in cells built by the bees. Selection for larger queens has
not changed the cell size bees build or prefer.

If you place an empty hive body on top of a hive body filled with
foundation and add a package of bees they will build comb in the empty
box before they will use the foundation. While bees accept foundation
they prefer to build their own.

Never forget all true honeybee experts have six legs.

Micky