>>Does anyone on this list have an explanation for the term "checkerboarding?"

The premise behind checkerboarding is that bees want to have a continuous broodnest and honey storage areas.  They plug away at any gaps in the nest continuity.

You can take adavantage of this trait in one more way help weaker colonies or packages develop faster.  If the temps are favorable and the nest is not drafty, you can monitor the queen's egg laying and add additional frames - one or two at either end of the brood nest - behind the outer most frames with brood.  The queen will lay in those frames as soon as the bees prepare the cells.  The bees will work extra hard to restore the nest continuity leading to a faster build-up.  You must take that the night temps don't drop too low and chill the brood.

Waldemar

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