>Interesting, if you start with a strip of small cells, they will continue to build small?
You can start with a strip of large cell, small cell or blank wax. The end results are the same.
>Do we know if hatching earlier causes any infirmities to the bees as it squeezes out the mites?
Since the bees build whatever they want, how is it going to harm the bees?
> I've heard not, but I have a suspicion of manipulation, think it got us into the trouble we are in.
But it's not manipulation.
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesnaturalcell.htmAs far as studies, I'd say most scientific studies are not badly done. The problem is the broad conclusions that are drawn from either small statistically irrelevant studies or the tendency for statistics to be skewed in ways that were not anticipated.
I'll give an illustration in a different realm. Let's say I do an experiment on how best to start my old car (that still has a carborator). After many experiments (on a nice 70 degree day in the early summer) I conclude that pumping the gas pedal twice and then turning the key will start it in the least amount of time. I share this with everyone and the assumption is made, based on this study, than any more or less will never be as effective as twice. So that winter, when it's -33 F, I try that method and never do succeed at starting my car because I insist that twice is exactly the right number of times to pump it. Of course, I did not take into account the outside temperature with that experiment.
Drawing broad conclusions on narrow studies is the cause of many "mistakes" in research.