Hi  All/Allen

Allen you menioned not having seen the wax gathering activity I
reported in your bees.

This is very interesting. My bees switch to wax gathering in winter
and during dearths!! Of course, in Canada bees are not thinking much
about building cappings in winter, so as you say the observatioon is
not rellevant to your locale.

However, I am reasonably sure if you left a bunch of clogged
excluders lying in a sunny spot near an apiary the bees would strip
them of propolis and wax - and put them back on your clean excluders
in the apiary. They need the heat too make the substances pliable.

In central africa I have read of preists having hassles with
A.m.adansonii stealing their wax candles from churches!! Of course
the ambient temperature in the Congo is such that wax is pliable year
round, day through night as well.

Keep well

Garth


Garth Cambray           Camdini Apiaries
15 Park Road
Grahamstown             Apis mellifera capensis
6139 South Africa

Time = Honey