Hi Keith & All, I haven't found anything on the web about the Norway small cell test just yet. Might be able to get info from the man in charge: prof. Stig W. Omholt Agricultural University of Norway Department of Animal Science P.O. Box 25 N-1430 AAS NORWAY Email: stig.w.omholt@... He has made some posts on BEE-L in the past. The test started in 2002, maybe Dee, Hans-Otto or Erik Osterlund or Bee Culture might have info on more up to date test results, if it was allowed to continue into 2005. There were no treatment administered in the Norway small cell test, except for an initial treatment of OA in order to even out mite populations and start with low mite counts. Hans states on the article that they are continuing the test with a new breed of bee, "The new queens introduced were of another breed, carnilolan. None of the colonies was treated with any substance for the mite". The mite count was significantly lower in the small cell group. The findings are that the large cell group averaged a peak if 2 mites per day and the large cell group averaged a peak at 7 mites per day. In my experience, there are many factors contributing to mite levels in individual colonies, levels can vary from year to year, for this reason a low mite count may not necessarally reflect that there is an actual genetic resistance. Although, low counts would be an item to consider in making selection decisions, I myself do not put much weight on mite counts by themselves, and don't even bother counting them. Instead, I choose hygienic testing and over all performance in selecting for possible genetic resistance. I agree with you that the significant increase of honey harvest in the small cell group would more than pay for expenses made by switching over to small cell. You can see that the range of surplus from the small cell group was = 50.7 - 136.6 lbs. And the range of the large cell group = 17.6 - 125.4 lbs. A more predictable average surplus in the apiary would suggest to me that the small cell group is somehow on average better suited, healthier or more in tune over all with the environment for them to out compete the large cell group by 24%. For example, IMO, you do not want to see a wide range of anything but genetic variation in a bee yard. When you have a wide range of winter failures or honey harvest or colony strengths, you know that you have some serious problems and or some equally serious selecting to do. Looking at the evidence in the small cell test. The small cell group has on average out-competed the large cell group in every single area. Even though many large cell beekeepers boast of 'bigger payload' capabilities in large cell bees. These small cell bees on average have managed to out-produce the large cell bees in the broodnest and up in the supers. This can only mean that the small cell group was more fit than the large cell group, and the use of small cell comb allowed for a higher state of health for the colonies in the small cell group. Best Wishes, Joe PA ______________________________________________________ Click here to donate to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. http://store.yahoo.com/redcross-donate3/ -- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l for rules, FAQ and other info ---