In a message dated 13/11/2006 13:26:43 GMT Standard Time,  
[log in to unmask] writes:

<<The cell sizes that Dee quotes can only be consistently  achieved using 
Italian bees or Africanised bees. UK mongrel bees can go  down to about 
5.1 mm, which I attribute to the presence a high percentage  of Italian 
genes.>>



Mine are, I think, still near-AMM, and while  they're currently on a pretty 
random mix of cell sizes, they're perfectly happy  on 5.1mm. I've had colonies 
on badly-drawn 4.9 twice, and lost both from queen  failure. I'm not sure 
whether this is coincidence or not, but I'll be trying  again, if only to see what 
happens. It would be interesting to have a colony  without foundation, to see 
what they drew when left to their own devices, but so  far every time i've 
tried using strips, I've rapidly ended up with comb that was  so far from 
straight I had to start bending it and cutting bits off so I could  get the frames 
out!
 
    Regards,
 
    Robert Brenchley

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