Further to Allen Dick's comment about bees working dark Ross Rounds
   better than white:
 
   1) To clarify, Allen: The dark parts you refer to: This is the outer
   structure that guides the bees to finish the combs consistently at the
   same thickness, right? The foundation, and even the plastic rings in
   contact with the foundation, are the same in each case (plain wax and
   clear plastic, respectively).
 
   2) at the recent Amer Beekeeping Federation meeting in Portland, at a
   panel discussion of wood + wax vs plastic frames, Bob Brandi of
   California mentioned his experience with plastic foundation made of
   different colours (colors in his case):
        dark plastic foundations were consistently drawn first, in a super
   containing a selection of colours
        they had some foundation made in black plastic: it was well
   accepted, but wax would separate from the plastic when supers were
   brought into the hot room (the foundation got too hot?)
        they have compromised by having the foundation made in green,
   combining the advantages of the 2 points above.
 
   I wonder, what is the physics behind the bees' recognition of these
   colours in the "dark". Perhaps one of our members familiar with heat
   conduction, radiation etc can tell us.
        what is the biological advantage of the bees preference (is it as
   simple as the universal human quest for warm fuzzies?
        From the practical beekeeping point of view, how much does it
   matter? If bees don't have the choice, will they be more easily induced
   to build comb faster in all dark foundation (or the opposite in white
   foundation?) I suppose the observations of plain plastic vs waxed
   plastic foundation might apply (ie it depends more on conditions than
   foundation: lots of young bees + good honeyflow + hot weather = comb
   building)
 
   One thing the pannel could not comment on: is there a difference in bees
   winter success on plastic vs wax foundation (everyone on the panel
   wintered their bees in the warm south). There was a comment about
   plastic not conducting heat as well as wax (meant as a criticism of
   plastic, though it seems it should be an advantage) but no one had a
   strong opinion. What has been your experience, Allen, Jean-Pierre?
 
 
   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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