Hi Waldemar Regarding trapezoidal frames... There was another approach used in UK, have a look at... http://www.dave-cushman.net/bee/catenary.html > if there was the same cell size gradation in the vertical direction At the time I made the original observations, I was not interested in comb structure and sizing. I was actually looking at some colonies that wished to build comb in a particular compass direction. I can say that there was nothing unusual on the combs that were produced to attract my attention, but that of course is not definitive. > Dennis Murrell's description of the cell size gradation in > natural comb Dennis has opened my eyes to look more discerningly, the observation that cells vary in size is easy to see (once you know it is there), but inferences as to why it is done and how it affects the colony can not yet be made. > On such comb, bees raise more smaller bees in the fall and spring > [influencing better hive pest removal at these critical times]. I do not see that the two statements are linked, how can you demonstrate this ?? > They raise more larger bees in the spring as brood rearing expands > [which may help secure a larger harvest...?]. Again, what equates larger bees with a bigger harvest ?? > a fairly narrow starter strip can be used in empty Langstroth > frames to encourage bees to keep the combs straight... The strip or bead of wax can be quite minimal, see... http://www.dave-cushman.net/bee/cutcombbars.html Regards & Best 73s, Dave Cushman, G8MZY http://website.lineone.net/~dave.cushman or http://www.dave-cushman.net Short FallBack M/c, Build 6.02/3.1 (stable) -- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l for rules, FAQ and other info ---