small cell, small bees

[Tern]

I hived a package in early May onto small-cell wax foundation. They have drawn out about 5 full frames and seem to be doing well, good egg patterns, etc. Today I saw the results. There were bees that were about half the size of the other bees at the entrance. The difference was marked.

[naturebee]

When regressing, at around 5.0 mm or so, a marked change abdomen shape becomes noticeable, the abdomen becomes narrower and more pointy at the end. You can see an example of that here in this feral swarm I caught in remote woodlands a day ago that I estimate from looking at bee size and abdomen shape to originate from cell sizes between 4.9 and 5.0 mm

http://s113.photobucket.com/albums/n...DCP_2253-1.jpg


Joe
feralbeeproject.com

[Chef Isaac]

Thank you for sharing the picture, Joe. I have eight packages on small cell right now. Last checked, they are doing well and ready to split.

[Dundrave]

I tried to do the exact same thing. My package absconded (so I am told) within a couple of days. I am hoping they didn't end up in a neighbors attic, I check everywhere else. I wonder what the difference was between your success and my total failure.

Were you using 4.9 new foundation?
(I was)

Plastic or wax?
(I used wax)

What type of queen?
(I used carnolian with Italian package from betterbee)

My bees freed my queen and then found a new home .

Dundrave

FYI
This is the video clip of the package installation - Maybe I did something wrong, though I did it the same as I did with my other hive which is going full guns. (on 5.4)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHksCPcenU0

[Chef Isaac]

Dundrave:

I used 4.9 foundation. I used the wax one piece small cell from Mann Lake.

I have 4 packages of Italians on small cell and 4 carnis on small cell.

Did you spray the foundation with sugar syrup?

[Dundrave]

I have never heard of spraying the foundation with sugar water. What is the benefit? (other then your bees stayed and mine left

[Chef Isaac]

The bees work it with more acceptance. This step is manly done on plastic foundation. I have done it for year.

[Michael Bush]

>I tried to do the exact same thing. My package absconded (so I am told) within a couple of days. I am hoping they didn't end up in a neighbors attic, I check everywhere else. I wonder what the difference was between your success and my total failure.

A good queen? A better smelling hive? Occasionally a package either moves next door or they think they can find a better house. I doubt it was the size of the foundation.

[Troy]

Chef Isaac, you said:

I used the wax one piece small cell from Mann Lake.

I assume you mean the PLASTIC one piece from Mann Lake, as I looked for small cell wax on their site and did not see any.

I am looking for sources of the small cell foundation. I prefer unwired wax and I will wire it myself.

Does anyone else sell unwired? I think Dadant has only crimp wired small cell.

I saw the foundation mill on Mann Lake's site. Who has bought one and would like to make some foundation for me?

[Will]

Dadant's has it. I didn't realize it had become so hard to find. One of my new beek friends had to get his from Paris, Texas.