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Plastic foundation for honey chambers from the United States. Partially (poorly) expanded here.

Plastic foundation for honey chambers from the United States. Partially (poorly) expanded here

 

Historical documents indicate that 150 years ago the honey bees developed cells between 4.6 mm and 4.9 mm. With the idea in mind that larger bees would drag in more honey, people started experimenting with all sorts of cell sizes. Up to 5.7 mm and 5.8 mm for honey bees. Eventually all that experimentation led to a cell size of 5.3 mm - 5.4 mm. It has now been clear for a long time that the size of the honey bees does not affect the honey yield. But most likely it causes stress. Tens of thousands of years on small cells and then suddenly the bees had to build larger. With nature building, you can therefore conclude that depending on the bee population, many cell sizes are produced.

We want to remove this stress factor and so go back to 4.9 mm. However, this is not easy for our current honey bees. But one in a hundred bee population manages to expand 4.9 mm foundation right away. That would mean a many-year process before they are back at 4.9 mm. However, it has since become clear that almost all bees born in small cells can also develop them. It is therefore important to start with small cell bees.

Fortunately, there is also another option, namely the use of commercially available plastic foundation for honey chambers. There is plastic foundation that the bees then have to expand themselves from the United States. Quite a few bees, however, will build larger cells towards the outside.

 

COMPLETELY MANUFACTURED plastic foundation for honey chambers from Italy

COMPLETELY MANUFACTURED plastic foundation for honey chambers from Italy

 

But there is also COMPLETELY manufactured plastic foundation for honey chambers from Italy. This means that the cells are also completely made of plastic. These work great, although the bees don't like them. But after 6 weeks we give them 4.9 mm foundation of wax, after which they can start working again.

Both the American and Italian are sawn in half and made in mini-plus size.

The Italian company may be reached at:    ROVER TUIN Via Boccaccio 11-21023 Besozzo
  Tel: 0332-970.000 e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  Italia  

 

The American company: 

 

  http://www.simpsonsbeesupply.com/
Resistantbees now also supplies plastic material    https://resistantbees.com/shop/index.php?id_product=37&controller=product&id_lang=5 

 

 

20140820 bijen ger 0912

  Here with bees on it