L.S.,
This years observation is the same as last year and 2 years ago. In May/June I start seeing smaller workers among larger workers. The difference is pretty striking, smaller workers are 20% maybe to 30% smaller than large workers. These smaller workers seem to function normally and they have no deformities for the eye.
Again I am wondering what I am looking at. Influence of a pathogen? Influence of nutrition? Normal seasonal change in bee size?
My bees are thriving this year, we had a warm spring. All colonies are on natural comb that has quite some variation in cell size.
I can't find publications on this subject. Does anyone know any?
Does anyone see the same in their bees?
all the best,
Lennard
***********************************************
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
Guidelines for posting to BEE-L can be found at:
http://honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/guidelines.htm