This message was originally submitted by [log in to unmask] to the BEE-L list at LISTSERV.ALBANY.EDU. It was edited to remove entirety of quotes of previously posted material.Y ----------------- Original message (ID=935AAB1D) (75 lines) ------------------- Date: Thu, 13 Dec 2001 11:18:52 -0600 From: "Lance Parr" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: On Pierco plastic frames. My personal experience with starting a package on Pierco frames was not good. I'm in College Station, Texas (East Central Texas). This spring I started a 3 lb. package of Russians from Hardeman's on nine frames of deep white wax coated Pierco frames with a division feeder full of 2:1 sugar syrup. Following advice seen on this list I sprayed each frame with the same 2:1 sugar syrup as I had filled the feeder with moments prior to installation. Installation went smoothly with no problems (no smoke, veil or gloves). A week and two days later I checked on them and found that they had released the queen and begun building transverse (parallel with the front of the hive, 90 degrees the frames) strips of comb between the frames. The strips were fairly straight from top to bottom, and had the proper bee space between them. I pulled all the frames and scraped the comb away, with deep regret since it was full of eggs, pollen and stored syrup. I checked on them again a week later and found the exact same thing, repeating the process of scraping away the c! omb and forcing them to start over. I was out of town and didn't have a chance to check on them again for another two weeks. When I did I found the exact same situation. This time I pulled the Piercos and replaced them with wood frames and wired wax foundation from Kelley's. A week later they had a good start on good straight comb drawn from the foundation and I've had no problems with them since (other than the normal amount of burr and brace comb). I scraped the Piercos again, added a tenth, put them on a strong colony during the flow and they drew them out and filled them just fine. Ditto with another super of white Piercos that I put on a colony of Caucasians that I had started from a package about the same time that I started the Russians. I installed this package (from Farris Homans) on wood frames with wired wax foundation from Kelley's. These Caucasians were building up quickly and I added the Piercos as the second deep on the brood chamber (nine frames with a division feeder). They drew them out nice and straight, filling them solid with brood and stores. During the flow I gave the same colony a super of ten medium white Piercos and they filled them solid with nice straight comb as well. FWIW: I started another colony from a 3 lb Russian package from Tabers on nine frames of white wax coated Mann Lake Rite-Cell and had no problems. I added a second deep of Rite Cell, then a medium of Rite Cell on this same colony and they drew them out nice and straight as well. This is my first season to use plastic frames or foundation, and this was only an experiment. I intend to stick with wood frames & wax foundation, but I have to admit that the convenience is nice. I have no idea how the frames will hold up, or if I'll have problems years from now when I scrape them clean and give them back to the bees to start over. Why did I have the lousy luck with the Piercos that I started the package on? I don't know, and I'm open to ideas. I started them on all new equipment, migratory top, in a good location with lots of good forage and water nearby. They didn't appear to be under any stress. And I've not previously seen any advice against starting a package on Piercos. My results and observations are totally un-scientific, so take them for what they're worth. Take care, Lance Parr Network Specialist II Physical Plant Telecommunications Texas A&M University Mail Stop 1371 College Station, Texas 77843-1371 [log in to unmask] (979) 458-1746