Natural cell size ?

[SEEYA]

I am wondering about 'natural' cell size AND how to get there.
M Bush's Website / Book: natural worker comb - 4.6 to 5.1 cell size
                                   Lusby                    = 4.83 average cell size
                                   Small cell                - 4.9 cell size
                                   
Beesource - Dee Lusby : Forced minimum cell size - 4.6 to 4.7
                                  Average                       - 4.9
                                  top range                     - 5.0 , 5.1
Lusby claims: a change in size due to latitude and altitude
(Condensed information - check sources for whole story)

Does natural cells size = what ever the bees make without foundation?

Does Frame spacing affect cell size? Narrower spacing = smaller cells?

Will narrower spacing, on foundationless frames, cause bad comb?

Are any of the European honey bees races more willing to regress?

Thank you all, in advance.

Sorry folk wrote this topic this morning, before work, then posted it when I got home. It should have been a reply to a different topic.

[SEEYA]

Some answers to this topic @ Moving to small cell: If I use 5.1mm foundation...

[Michael Bush]

Certainly some bees are more willing than others and some of those factors are genetic, some are latitude and altitude, some are the size comb they were raised on (their body size) and some are the spacing of the combs.  The size bees build at 1 3/8" on center is larger than what they build at 1 1/4" (which is the spacing they would build if you let them).

>Does natural cells size = what ever the bees make without foundation?

Once they are regressed, yes.

>Does Frame spacing affect cell size? Narrower spacing = smaller cells?

In my experience, yes.

>Will narrower spacing, on foundationless frames, cause bad comb?

It will cause comb in the brood nest that is more consistent and flat and less variance in thickness, and cells that are smaller and less drone comb.  This is not a new observation.

"...if the space is insufficient, the bees shorten the cells on the side of one comb, thus rendering that side useless; and if placed more than the usual width, it requires a greater amount of bees to cover the brood, as also to raise the temperature to the proper degree for building comb, Second, when the combs are too widely spaced, the bees while refilling them with stores, lengthen the cells and thus make the comb thick and irregular--the application of the knife is then the only remedy to reduce them to proper thickness."--J.S. Harbison, The bee-keeper's directory pg 32

>Are any of the European honey bees races more willing to regress?

Everything here in the US is mutts.  Some are more willing but I wouldn't say by race.