|
|
Natural Cell Size  Natural cell size is not just 4.9 mm which is commonly referred to as “small cell”. Studies of feral brood comb have found that bees build a number of different cell sizes according to colony needs. Natural cell size is what the bees build when unimpeded by frames and foundation. Cell sizes run anywhere from 4.6mm to 5.2mm. A new colony shook from bees that was on foundation into an environment with no foundation will usually draw around 5.1mm to 5.5mm. The idea is to get the bees back to a natural size, which is more in tune with their environment.
For the history of how we got into trouble with cell size in the first place see Dee and Ed Lusby's writings here: http://www.beesource.com/pov/lusby/part4.htm Measuring Cell Size There are many scientific formulas and methods for measuring cell size on brood comb. The most popular, easiest and widely accepted is to measure across the center of 10 cells. When using a metric ruler measure from cell wall to cell wall and where the 10th cell wall stops is your size. All pictures are from the same brood nest which was established by bees that were off foundation for the first time. Worker cell sizes varied from 5.0mm to 5.5mm.   Above 5.0 mm comb Above 5.2mm and 5.4mm 6.1mm Drone How to Get There (simplified) Regression as it is called is not as hard as it is made out to be. Simplest method to regress bees is to shake down the colony into a new TBH every spring. Keep taking measurements of the brood comb and keep treating with a non-contaminating method until cell sizes in the core brood nest reach 4.9mm or less. As you reach that stage you should be observing a smaller mite count and be weaning them off treatments. Mite treatments will be a necessary part of this "regression" process, as no colony I have ever had can do it cold turkey!
Will all bees reach 4.9 mm? I do not know but I suspect there will be those colonies that won’t, how you manage them will depend on the individual colonies tolerance for mites. These colonies can be re-queened with queens from successful colonies. Copyright © 2002-2007 Gary Piantanida- Free for Private Use. - All Other Rights Are Reserved.
|
|