Chris writes..."Diverging onto the use of foundation: imagine a team of workers (human bricklayers!) building a wall, working from both sides. Then, if somebody puts a rigid opaque plastic sheet between them, how do they cooperate as well as a team?"

Had coffee with a couple of long time beekeepers this past week. Both run about 1500 colonies. They refuse to use plastic foundation in the brood chambers relying on a Swedish Study that indicates several problems with plastic foundation. First it inhibits heat transfer, more severe with the thicker less pliable foundations. Secondly it inhibits communication effectiveness. They have no problem with plastic foundation in supers. They both claim that their overwintering success has improved much since they went to all wax foundation in the deeps. They could not produce the study or give precise information about who, when, where. Anyone aware of such a study or others that might address this?
Gary
Manhattan, Kansas   

   

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