> I actually started this year (now) to use the patties as a way to test 
> queen performance. I reckon that the colonies that lag on the pattie 
> consumption is because the queen do not lay as the others. The larvae 
> feeding is the demand the drives pattie/pollen consumption.

I'll be interested to see what you learn.  If all the hives have similar 
genetics, the premise may hold, but if they vary much, there are bound to be 
other factors involved.

In my experience, although there is a definite correlation of some degree 
between brood rearing and patty consumption, I should think that other 
things like the pollen gathering tendencies, the age distributions within 
the hive and many other factors might have an influence.

When I use patty consumption to judge a hive, it is only one of many 
considerations, and tends to be an indicator, more than a measure. 

             ***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned 
LISTSERV(R) list management software.  For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html