Dee writes:

<<Also the bees born in 4.9mm cells or smaller have the wings
longer in proportion to the body then their big sisters on
5.2 or larger foundation. ON the smaller the tip of the
abdomen is shorter then the wing length and on the larger
the wings are shorter then the tip of the abdomen. For
drones of both this has marked effect on mating capacity to
see who gets ther first.>>

    Have you measured them for comparison? Ruttner, Milner & Dews reported in
'The Dark European Honey Bee' that the size of the forewing in A.m.m. found
in archaeological digs dating from about 800 and 1000 years ago were similar
to those of modern bees, presumably raised on large foundation. Does the wing
size change as the bees are downsized.


Regards,

Robert Brenchley
[log in to unmask]
Birmingham UK