Martin said: For my MSc research I looked at size and shape variation among many colonies of honey bees across south-east Asia. Size was more variable within species and within races than between species and was strongly correlated with altitude. And: How quickly do bees, once they are allowed to freely build comb the size "they want", go to a size that is optimal given their climate? Has anyone done a study that looks at the same race of bee, kept in many different climates In the early 80s, we found that bees kept by beekeepers throughout the Puget Sound area of Washington differed widely in size among colonies. How much of that size variation was because of the comb used, natural variation, altitude or climate, etc. is unknown. But, we did see marked differences AND at that time, the bees should have all been European in origin - no AHB. Jerry J. Bromenshenk [log in to unmask] http://www.umt.edu/biology/bees