Hi Keith & all

> Old bees can make brood food and Royal jelly if they need to. 

True enough in the main, but what about at the extreme limits of age, I 
suspect all glandular activity falls off with age and there may be a 
point when no brood food can be produced.

I was suspicious of this about 25 years ago when a few very undeveloped 
broodless colonies ( some only two frames) romped away after being given 
a frame of brood and bees. This was in May, when most UK colonies are 
well developed.


Regards & Best 73s, Dave Cushman, G8MZY
http://www.dave-cushman.net (http://website.lineone.net/~dave.cushman)
Short FallBack M/c, Build 7.01/2.01

****************************************************
* General Information About BEE-L is available at: *
* http://www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/default.htm   *
****************************************************