Comparative Development of Foraging and Brood Production in Honeybee Colonies Established on Comb and on Foundation

Summary

More honeybees foraged initially from colonies established on combs than from colonies established on sheets of foundation or on narrow starter-strips of foundation. The rates at which bees returned with pollen to colonies given comb and to those given foundation were not significantly different, but both were higher than those for colonies given starter strips. Brood production was the same in colonies with comb and foundation. During the experiments a strong nectar flow allowed rapid comb construction. Differences in foraging could not be shown to result from any stimulus from the old comb; they may have been due to differences in the number of bees required inside the hive as the colonies became established.