Hi all

Murray wrote:
I have reported a comb pattern from an open swarm on a
Juniper bush. It does not meet the description offered.
Period. Nothing more to be read into it than that.

Reply:
Right now I am not in disagreement with Michael on his
positioning, for in it's applicability to domestic bees we
keep(by drawing an imaginary line) I find the concept
working so far amazingly well and have found no
deviations.I am very proud to use the Housel Positioning
concept for internal placement of our frames.

I do know and have already stated on biobee that other
circumstances then from sturdy limbs is different scenario
and therefore different expected outcomes i.e. TBH and
hives built in sides of houses, holes in rocks, trees,
etc., as the bees probably augment differently from various
entrances.

I also know that a bush or shrub is not a very structural
sound place for bees to normally build a set of combs,
requiring much brace and burr comb to stabalize constantly
shifting structure that becomes heavier as weight is added,
and I feel it would be hard to get the bees to build stable
angles, etc because of this constant stablilizing problem,
what with winds and all.So because of this I visualize this
structure as being differnet in my mind in needs.

I also know that to look at combs built and described to me
2 feet in depth and up to 4 foot long, means the combs have
been in place awhile. Much changes with comb bottom as
combs age. But for what can be seen and to rationalize
positioning with the "Y" down towards the inside and the
"Y" up towards the sides for protection, I can not disagree
with. I cannot picture bees in slaphazzard comb building,
but instead following a set pattern and position where at
all possible. This following of pattern I have seen in the
many cutouts we do and have done, preferring feral survival
swarms to rebuild our outfit with, along survivors from our
shakedown in the spring of 1997.

Using same positioning within our colonies as the feral has
solved much that has puzzled me over the years, in the
manipulation of our frames and trying to draw new
foundation into production combs for brood and honey, etc.

As I watch now in coming months and years, I hope to learn
more on our road to keeping bees harmonious with Nature
thanks to this new positioning method that hurts nothing
except in swallowing pride to change (we did)and takes a
little time (for us 2 1/2 months, and brings us further
down the path to good biological beekeeping without the
usage of various treatments of essential oils, FGMO, drugs,
chemicals, and fumigating acids.

Regards,

Dee A. Lusby





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