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BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: Barry on March 30, 2014, 10:55:14 PM

Title: why is the new comb Brown
Post by: Barry on March 30, 2014, 10:55:14 PM
(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/31/4a9e3u6y.jpg)(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/31/abubu6a5.jpg)
this is brand new comb, with it's first cycle of brood. I have never seen new comb be anything other than brilliant white. could they be tearing apart some old dark comb from the original nuc combs and repurposing it?

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Title: Re: why is the new comb Brown
Post by: Wolfer on March 30, 2014, 11:33:01 PM
I've seen it before but I don't know what causes it.
Title: Re: why is the new comb Brown
Post by: Kathyp on March 31, 2014, 12:20:35 AM
looks normal to me.  once they start using it, it darkens.  the tracking over, brood, food, etc all darken the comb.  do you have some pictures though, taken straight at the comb?  i'd like to see better pictures of that brood capping.
Title: Re: Re: why is the new comb Brown
Post by: Barry on March 31, 2014, 12:28:09 AM
(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/31/ysasybud.jpg)(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/31/ubaheqa4.jpg)
that's a better pic showing them drawing the walls of the cells up quite dark , the lower ones have nothing but possibly eggs.

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Title: Re: why is the new comb Brown
Post by: Bush_84 on March 31, 2014, 12:57:55 AM
I've heard that comb color may change depending on what nectar they are bringing in.  Not sure how true it is however.
Title: Re:
Post by: Barry on March 31, 2014, 01:21:33 AM
The thing is the comb you're seeing, is under 12 days old, of course pollen and brood rearing willm stain the comb, but not in 12 days.

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Title: Re:
Post by: RHBee on March 31, 2014, 02:50:30 AM
Quote from: Barry on March 31, 2014, 01:21:33 AM
The thing is the comb you're seeing, is under 12 days old, of course pollen and brood rearing willm stain the comb, but not in 12 days.

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Looks completely normal to me. I believe the coloration comes from the way the bees prepare the comb for brood.
Title: Re: why is the new comb Brown
Post by: jayj200 on March 31, 2014, 10:05:06 AM
Yes I have seen white

sorry do not know about brown

But I have also seen brilliant yellow

the nectar was also bright yellow

a beek told me it was the tree they gathered from.

jay
Title: Re:
Post by: Barry on March 31, 2014, 02:17:54 PM
thank you for the response is that you've given, don't know if it means anything but the bees are Russian hybrid, aside from a love for propolis

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Title: Re:
Post by: Barry on March 31, 2014, 03:37:51 PM
and this is a test can anybody spot the Queen, on one of the frames. can't see her all just her long tapered abdomen

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Title: Re: why is the new comb Brown
Post by: greenbtree on March 31, 2014, 05:35:11 PM
Last year when I as installing packages, I had to go back in about 1/2 hour after installing one because I thought I had the cage oriented wrong.  In that time they had already built a streamer of comb hanging off the queen cage, and it was a solid medium brown.  I know people insist bees do not reuse wax, but I have to admit that that made me wonder.

JC
Title: Re: why is the new comb Brown
Post by: merince on March 31, 2014, 05:40:39 PM
They could be reusing the older wax or the nectar source could be leading to a darker wax.
Title: Re:
Post by: Barry on March 31, 2014, 07:12:36 PM
the initial frames of the nucleus, were much older frames and I suspected they might be repurposing the wax because they cleared out a baseball size section of frame to make drone cells

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Title: Re: why is the new comb Brown
Post by: ggileau on March 31, 2014, 08:03:20 PM
A gentleman from Mann Lake said that when the bees make bad comb that I should cut it out and leave it for them near the entrance to reuse, so I suppose he believes that the reuse old comb.
Title: Re: why is the new comb Brown
Post by: sc-bee on March 31, 2014, 08:16:36 PM
Quote from: greenbtree on March 31, 2014, 05:35:11 PM
  I know people insist bees do not reuse wax, but I have to admit that that made me wonder.
JC

Yes bees will move and re-use wax to a certain extent before conditions are conducive of drawing wax.
Title: Re:
Post by: Stevezone5 on March 31, 2014, 09:47:54 PM
Quote from: Barry on March 31, 2014, 03:37:51 PM
and this is a test can anybody spot the Queen, on one of the frames. can't see her all just her long tapered abdomen

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Finally, a test I passed.
Title: Re: why is the new comb Brown
Post by: Kathyp on March 31, 2014, 09:59:32 PM
better.  thanks.

any of you really experienced guys have a comment on the cell cappings.  especially those in pic 2 from the middle to the left?