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Letters
Combs across top-bar hives or frames
I have successfully used the method of tying wild comb into frames reported in the article in BfDJ 96. Alternative methods are to use elastic bands or, instead of piercing the combs to push string through, prepare the frames with a few loops of string tied fairly loosely at each end, cut the comb to shape using the frame as a template, and then ease the string loops along, pulling them diagonally to tighten them. In my experience with my top-bar hives, the bees are always
inclined to draw comb in a curve and this makes sense as it adds strength in a different plane, in the same way as in corrugated iron. If you can get the comb while still young, you can easily persuade it back to the straight and narrow with a gently applied hive tool. When then placed next to an end wall or between straight combs, the bees will draw it as the beekeeper desires. When harvesting or renewing combs I always leave a 'footprint' from the old comb on the top-bar if it is in the right alignment: this normally ensures the subsequently drawn comb is ok. If the footprint is not as desired then I remove it.
Chris Slade, UK
Comb tied into a frame
PHOTO © CHRIS SLADE
Profitable beekeeping with Apis cerana
Many thanks for this article in BfDJ 94. Mr Hisashi is very knowledgeable, however, I have some unanswered questions. I was interested to read that Apis cerana honey sells at four times the price of Apis mellifera honey. How are the honeys different? Surely it is the nectar source which really makes a difference? I do not think there is such a price difference in China. I agree that Apis cerana is docile, but do they really make friends with humans? If so, they are very different from Apis mellifera. Received wisdom is that it is the experience of the beekeeper and the way s/he handles the bees which contributes to good behaviour.
Mr Hisashi says that Apis cerana hardly every abscond without a reason. True, no doubt. But what are the reasons? And what should the beekeeper do to prevent it? What does he mean by the bees’ language; what are the 20 expressions which he uses, and the 10 used by Apis mellifera? Do Apis mellifera in a cluster face downwards? The picture shows them fanning above the hive entrance so obviously they are facing downwards towards the entrance but I think they normally face upwards when clustering. How interesting that Apis cerana queens lay only in newly built cells. I could not find any mention of this in books from Sri Lanka, so maybe it only applies to Apis cerana japonica? Does this mean that even if space is limited, the queen will ignore empty, used comb and wait for fresh comb to be built? It seems rather wasteful. I really enjoyed the article and am keen to read more.
PHOTO © FUJIO HISHAHI
Peter Sibley, UK
