For storage of honey in supers, slightly less wax is needed (for a given
amount of honey stored) if the honey is stored in Drone cells as opposed
to Worker cells and indeed the bees themselves will often fill in a
damaged piece of super with drone cell.
So, here is the question - why don't we use drone foundation in our
supers in order to give the bees a slightly easier task in drawing out
the larger (more efficient cells) ?
Are there other subtle disadvantages such as, larger cells making it
more difficult to dry the honey, or drone cells encouraging laying
workers far away from the brood nest in pheromone- weak areas?
Alan Riach
Edinburgh