Hi Zachary & all

> http://photo.bees.net/gallery/Disease-and-Pests/strange_capping


My calendar does not say April 1st, so I suspect some other sort of leg
pull. It is the sort of pattern that could result from pinkilling in the
rosette shape rather than the diamond shape, but if the larvae are alive and
develop into full size adults that is ruled out.

The only guess that I can make is that the larvae in the cells that are at
the centre of the rosettes emitted some sort of pheramone that
inhibited/stunted the growth of the larvae in the cells surrounding it.

> trying ot save on wax (but does the sunken cappings use less wax?).

I would sugest that if the capping is debossed by the same amount that it
would normally be raised then wax usage would be the same. If the sinking is
deeper than this, then more wax than normal would be required.


Regards & 73s... Dave Cushman, G8MZY
Beekeeping & Bee Breeding Website
http://website.lineone.net/~dave.cushman

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