More Questions - About Frames

[PSL.Michelle]

More questions for y'all,
I have been using the plastic wax-coated frames and bees are doing just fine. But my region's beekeeper assn. is experimenting with organic pest control a la small cell frames.
Question 1: Can I add a small cell super above a standard plastic super?
Question 2: How about adding empty frames? Will bees build their own comb without help? Obviously they do it in the wild, but what about in the Langstrom type hive?
Thanks again,
Michelle in Port St Lucie, FL

[Big John]

I don't know about platic have never used it. I do use small cell for the one in the middle for a guide and starter strips for the rest of the frames with no trouble, have had very good luck with this setup.
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfoundationless.htm

[Eyeshooter]

To start small cell you have to regress your bees as you already have your colonies set up with large cell. One way to do it is to remove the 2 outermost frames, move the remaining frames to the sides and add 2 small cell frames to the middle. You can also just do 1 frame at time. I also spray my frames with a Honey-B-Healthy and syrup mix to keep them a bit happier.

Next time you get a new package you can just dump them in a super all set up for small cell. I installed one large cell and 1 small cell at the same time last year. It takes them longer to get going (and I think I had some major drifting to the large cell hive) but mine have done fine and are actually ahead of my large cell hive this spring.

I'm looking forward to doing a mite count to see if it's making any difference. Just need some continuing warm days... Good luck!

[Joseph Clemens]

Mann Lake PF-120/PF-125 all plastic frames are 4.95mm cell size. During the honeyflow my bees build them into combs quickly and nearly flawlessly.

[Michael Bush]

>Question 1: Can I add a small cell super above a standard plastic super?

You can put it where ever you like but it will do the most good in the brood nest.

>Question 2: How about adding empty frames? Will bees build their own comb without help?

Yes, but if you want it in the frames you need to have a guide:

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfoundationless.htm

> Obviously they do it in the wild, but what about in the Langstrom type hive?

L.L. Langstroth used only foundationless frames. He had no foundation.

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfoundationless.htm#historicreferences