> Beekeepers in northern states who replaced 50% or more of the
 > comb in their colonies lost on average 17.2 more colonies per
 > hundred than those who did not replace any of the combs in
 > their brood chambers.

It is interesting to see confirmation of a fact that
experienced northern commercial beekeepers have always known: that
bees winter better on comb which has been in use several seasons
and which has some colour.  For wintering, older comb is an
important asset.  (I don't know how the Northern Europeans can
change as much comb as they reportedly do and winter well).

Of course, there is always more to any story than what is on
the surface.

Why did these beekeepers change so much comb?

Had they over-used coumaphos and contaminated the combs?

Were they gullible new beekeepers?  (Newbees always get taken
in by every fad that comes along).  If so, they may have had other
problems, too.

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