> Thank you Medhat, for the suggestion of the toothpick hole--it is a > huge improvement! I must confess that I knew its purpose, but have not used it as I didn't happen to have toothpicks handy I can see how toothpicks would allow the strips to hang straighter than the tabs, and the instructions are that the bees should be able to walk on both sides. If one side is pressed against the comb, as can be the case with side thrust from the tab being on one side, that does not happen. Mention was also made of using ten-frame spacing and I have noticed this to be an issue at times. The strips may contact the comb in some cases and I would assume this increases chemical transfer to wax over a centred strip. I also see the bees mine out the comb on both sides to maintain bee pace, or sometimes wax up the strips on one side. (bad). I am wondering if I should pull one frame for the duration of treatment and widen spacing a bit. In my 40+ years of bee-keeping, I have run both nine and ten frame spacing and never seen any difference between hives when doing so. With ten-frame spacing, I am seeing any slight bowing in a frame means bald spots. With nine-frame spacing that was never a problem. I can see ten-frame as being worthwhile in singles, but in doubles, there is no advantage IMO. (I frankly cannot see how those who shave frames to get eleven in a box manage -- or what the point might be). Anyhow, I plan to pay more attention to the spacing and also carry toothpicks. Wal-Mart sells nice round dispenser with round toothpicks for a dollar or so. --- Allen Dick Swalwell, Alberta, Canada 51°33'37.58"N 113°18'54.24"W Semi-retired - 40+ years keeping bees - 4500 hives max Currently running 20 to 100 hives Hives for sale year-round http://www.honeybeeworld.com/diary/ *********************************************** The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html