Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: rookie2531 on September 15, 2014, 03:43:20 PM

Title: cluster of drone comb?
Post by: rookie2531 on September 15, 2014, 03:43:20 PM
I was in the hives yesterday and noticed one hive had a cluster of drone comb, about the size of my fist. It has been getting cold at night, around 48 last couple nights. I did not see any open larva in any of the top supers, I'm guessing that this is normal for her to slow down laying, even when I'm feeding.
Title: Re: cluster of drone comb?
Post by: GSF on September 15, 2014, 10:13:33 PM
Where there any worker brood in there?
Title: Re: cluster of drone comb?
Post by: BeeMaster2 on September 15, 2014, 10:42:28 PM
Rookie,
My observation hive has been slowly making comb all summer. They have made drone brood comb in several areas around the hive but they have never had even one drone larvae in the hive. They fill them with nectar. Drone cells hold more honey than worker cells for the same area.
Jim
Title: Re: cluster of drone comb?
Post by: rookie2531 on September 16, 2014, 05:11:31 AM
Gary, Worker brood was all around it, but the worker brood was emerged and empty, no honey in it all all.

Jim, I am not sure but cappings on there stores look to be different than capped larva, and the drone brood is capped even rounded like bullets.

Is this a sign of them dealing with mites? My thought anyway.
Title: Re: cluster of drone comb?
Post by: BeeMaster2 on September 17, 2014, 12:27:48 AM
Rookie.
If the cells are capped with bullet shaped caps, that is drone brood. Usually, unless the cells are too short.
Jim
Title: Re: cluster of drone comb?
Post by: BeeMaster2 on September 17, 2014, 12:43:01 AM
Rookie,
Sounds like you have a flow on. If you do the bees will allow them to develop. If not they will remove the drone from the cells or remove them as they hatch.
Jim