By coincidence, I was just asked about this 10 minutes ago. John Harbo gave a
 report at the ABRC in Weslaco in 1989
I called John for an update.
 
The research was reported in ABJ, Dec '89 p 815. This is an abstract only, the
full paper has not been written.
What John measured was the post-capping period of workers reared in either the
ANP combs (taper cell) or regular wax comb, in the same colony. The reduction of
capped period was the mechanism claimed for the ANP combs. Varroa was not
present in the study area.
 
No significant differences were found, wax combs having a dev. time of 19 days,
13 hr, ANP combs having a time of 19 days, 16 hr. Small colonies (brood limited
by incubation volume) could not rear as many larvae using the ANP combs (fewer
cells could be incubated in the same volume, 10,000 vs 14,000) so they did less
well than those on wax.
 
Interestingly though, bees reared in the ANP combs were larger (130 mg vs 107
p<.01) and lived longer (31 days vs 27 p<.05)
 
He concluded that he didn't know if the ANP combs could reduce VArroa, but if
they did, it was not because of a reduction in brood development time.
 
Perhaps the combs might be worth trying in the presence of Varroa, but have they
solved the problem in Europe?
 
Kerry Clark, Apiculture Specialist
B.C. Ministry of Agriculture
1201 103 Ave
Dawson Creek B.C.
        V1G 4J2  CANADA          Tel (604) 784-2225     fax (604) 784-2299
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