From: "Dave Cushman" <dave.cushman@lineone.net>
Date: Sun, 6 May 2001 14:33:27 +0100
To: <BiologicalBeekeeping@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: Brood nest shape

Hi Joel

The actual nest shape within a set of frames that are themselves within a
box (or set of boxes), varies from an American (or Rugby) football lying on
it's side in hot regions (so that there is a larger surface area on the top
for heat dissipation).

In lowland, temperate regions the nest is spherical.

In more Northern and higher altitudes the nest is Rugby ball shaped but
standing on it's end (thus giving minimum heat loss from the smaller top
surface.

The shape of nests in UK varies from the South coast to the North of
Scotland.

The relatively broad Langstroth frame should be more suited to hot areas and in cold northern areas it would seem that a Jumbo Langstroth or a British
14" x 12" or Unified frame would be more suitable so that the nest would be
kept to one single set of frames.

Having said all that, the AMM type of bees that I prefer manage on one set
(11) of BS standard frames with an actual brood area 338 mm wide x 190 mm tall.

Regards From:- Dave Cushman, G8MZY
Beekeeping and Bee Breeding, http://website.lineone.net/~dave.cushman