From: "deelusbybeekeeper" <deelusbybeekeeper@excelonline.com>
Date: Thu, 10 May 2001 08:20:31 -0700
To: <BiologicalBeekeeping@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: Re: Adjusting to 49ers

Hi to all on Biological Beekeeping

Gene wrote:

> I
> use fiberglass hive tops and found that the bees were using a small
> vent whole in the top to come and go. This whole was too small for my
> Italians to pass through, but the 49ers went through quite easily.

> Makes me wonder if
> my wire queen excluder is doing anythig other than just taking up
> space, especially when the queen fisrt comes out of the cage.

Reply:

Gene, you didn't say if the bees were drawing foundation, even though the
boardman feeder was being bypassed. Were they? Were they drawing comb
foundation, which would mean there is a flow on in your area and they
didn't need nor want the feeder?

You say the bees were flying through a hole the italians you had couldn't
get through. Yes, they would do that, and is an example for others getting
49ers later to have tight equipment. As for the queen excluder, just because
the workers can get through doesn't mean the queen can, as her thorax is
bigger.

But, how new is your queen excluder? I know that beekeepers in our area
have complained over the years (we have been sizing down in this area with
others in our local association following since the mid 1980's) about the
newer queen excluders not working sometimes, as sizes seem to have changed
with the spacing between the wires or widths of the holes punched.

We use the old metal bound excluders or zinc excluders. Are you using a
different type?

Dee