The beeways created are set to accomodate whom they wish passing by... drones and queens included.
Yes - I think 'Accommodation Space' or 'Tolerance Space' would have been a better choice of term, rather
than Bee Space, as 'The Bee Space' varies in it's dimension around the hive (as you say).
But I guess we're stuck with that term now - and the confusion which goes with it.
LJ
[nodding]
With the numbers reading all online forums intermingled amongst
club/association members, and the whole of the beekeeping world
outside of the Internet, I'd offer the word usage horse has bolted...
.... long ago.
One can only hope the beekeeper is thinking in Bee and not Human :-))
I cannot know what systems exist everywhere for bus transit amongst
motor vehicles but here(.AU) those zones are known as "Clearway".
These zones are designed to accomodate - or not - both bus and
automobile in maintaining safe separation.
To my mind it is when building/designing colony infrastructure to keep
in mind whatever space the subspecies (chosen) requires to move within
in sync, considering also air pathways and pest hidey-holes. The latter
being prime factors bees use to build burrcomb and propolis, or not.
Building those Clearways into the hive body yourself creates an automatic
"by default" for the bees, and so will reduce their workload and the
beekeeper's workload in moving components and clearing away excessive
debri.
That Buckfast Co. video shows very well both BA's colonies and his protege's
colonies exhibiting little making of Clearways by the bees. Given BA's
experience/attention I would wager Man had a lot to do with making that
colony feature happen. The bees being content with what was supplied them
as architecture... or as we know it "beespace".
One classic example of mistake is found in using inner covers and migratory
lids where the cover has a penetration for a feeder.
The bees fill the lid cavity with honeycomb and cap it. Some argue this is a
good thing as it tells you the super below requires extracting and also
provides a buffer during a flow where the extraction cannot be done immediately.
I would argue the efficiency of such a belief as a detrimental outcome for the bees.
Often it can be seen there is honeycomb in the lid yet outside frames in the super
below are not capped or indeed even drawn, sometimes.
Mine own migratory - only style I use - are packed with polystyrene/urathane, the
inner being a fixed in place lid liner, usually of polycarb material to persuade no
burrcomb/propolis building where beespace can vary because of my carpentry
skills, lack of. As management I keep a watch on topmost super frames, moving
those about to persuade an even draw, fill and cap
Bill