BEE-L Archives

Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology

BEE-L@COMMUNITY.LSOFT.COM

Options: Use Monospaced Font
Show Text Part by Default
Show All Mail Headers

Message: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Topic: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Author: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]

Print Reply
Subject:
From:
Lloyd Spear <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Fri, 27 Nov 1998 10:30:42 -0500
Content-Type:
text/plain
Parts/Attachments:
text/plain (26 lines)
Dan asks "What space do you try for between the top of 1 frame and the
bottom of the
other one?"
Dan
 
This space must be as close as possible to 3/8th of an inch (.95 cm). This
3/8th spacing is referred to as "bee space".  At 1/2" bees will build burr
comb and at 1/4" bees will fill the space with propolis.  (I forget just how
well 7/16th or 5/16th will work.)  To complicate matters, some US
manufacturers place the bee space on the top of the super, others on the
bottom, and at least one even "splits the difference" so that there is
3/16th on the top and another 3/16th on the bottom!  Quite a problem is
created when a super made with the bee space on the bottom is put on top of
a super with the bee space on the top.  This generates a space of 3/4", sure
to be completely filled with burr comb, causing a grand mess when the boxes
are split.  If those same two supers were reversed, the bees would glue them
together so tight that after a season the beekeeper would need a crowbar to
split them!
 
So when you hear the US has standardized on Langsforth equipment...hear that
as "almost standardized".  One thing we all do agree on is that Langsforth's
discovery of bee space and its significance is as valid today as it was in
the 18th century.
 
Lloyd

ATOM RSS1 RSS2