Hey, Scott

I think first of all you should stop feeding cappings immediately, you're
going to get robbing, and it's going to be ugly. Some of the European
members are in countries where it is illegal to treat for certain
diseases, so they have to be more careful that you or I (in California)
with spreading disease. What I do with my cappings is to mix them 50-50
with water and put them in a feeding jar. Then I put the jar on top of a
hive I'm using to make comb honey. Or you can put it on top of a hive that
is weak, etc... Then just put an empty super on top and a lid on, so the
other bees can't get in. I've been doing this for several years now, and
yes I may be spreading disease, but I treat for foul brood in all my
hives, so I haven't really noticed any ill effects, and I find it a great
way to make extra money out of my cappings, especially as the sections of
comb honey sell very well.

As to your experiment, it doesn't really contradict the hypothesis that
scent is what the bees use to find food. You would have to do a more
formal study.

I myself stopped putting "wet" supers back on my hives when there isn't a
flow, because the smell of honey, once it gets back into the other hives
in the vicinity, sends the bees literally crazy if there isn't good
forage, and they go out looking for it, just as the scent hypotheses
states. And you can expect to kiss some of your weaker hives goodbye.

Very best
Tim Vaughan

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