In a message dated 11/10/04 05:10:16 GMT Daylight Time,  [log in to unmask]
writes:

<<Briefly, 5 rectangular pieces of comb 5 cm x 8 cm with cells  ranging in
size from 4.7 mm to 5.4 mm were inserted into the same brood  combs, and
after three generations of brood were frozen and the number of  infested
cells and the number of adults and offspring per cell were  counted. A
total of 1,616 cells were assessed from 10 nucleus colonies, 2  frames
per colony.

Robert Dartington asked if the bees uncapped more  infested cells of
small size. The study doesn't address this  point.

Trevor Weatherhead is correct in that 4.7 and 4.8 mm foundation  was
inconsistently drawn out. However, the author says that "enough  sections
(of comb) with correctly shaped cells were obtained for trial  usage".>>



The only thing this study appears to test is  whether varroa are less likely
to enter and breed in  smaller cell. It says  nothing, as far as I can see,
about what would happen in hives (rather than  patches of comb) with different
sized cells, or whether the brood raised in  smaller cells has an equal chance
of reaching adulthood and breeding  successfully.

    Regards,

    Robert Brenchley

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