> I send this out as an observation but also in an attempt to change the
> subject....

Good idea.  I'm sick of pesticides.  It seems the more we discuss that 
topic, the less we know.  About now, I know less than nothing.

As for wax foundation, IMO, its day is long past, except for the amateur 
who has the time to fiddle and time everything perfectly.  Too delicate, 
too easy broken, warped or chewed, and a problem if not drawn right away.

Add to that the questionable purity of the wax that goes into foundation 
these days and plastic rules, even if it, too must be coated with wax in 
order to achieve the best acceptance.

As for the bees gooing up the top and bottom bars on the one-piece 
frames, that is often due to inaccurate bee space and bad frame 
alignment between boxes in the stack.  The other cause of a lot of 
brace, burr, and ladder comb is overcrowding the hives, even for a day 
or two, especially if a sudden flow comes on and the incoming nectar has 
no place to go.

The plastic one-piece frames require more precise management than the 
wooden frames that have large expanses of lumber to discourage the bees 
from building.

When used properly, I see very little stray comb, and the more compact 
brood nest that results from the minimal top and bottom bars is a 
benefit in my cold region. ( See what it looks like outside my door: 
http://www.honeybeeworld.com/diary/images/2013/IMG315.jpg )

BTW, does anyone know what the ideal bee space actually measures?

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