I recently put a third medium on this hive (an overwintered nuc) and they are barely making use of it, but at the same time, they seem to be eager to build comb on the bottom of the frames in the bottom box, in the space over the bottom screen. Any ideas why this would be?
(http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm144/tjcurtin1/Bees/IMG_2431.jpg) (http://s295.photobucket.com/user/tjcurtin1/media/Bees/IMG_2431.jpg.html)
Looks like there is too much space between the bottom of the frames and the screen.
Pull up a couple of frames into the third medium.
If they don't use it, they don't need it. Honey flow is not big enough to need the extra box.
Is the comb built on the bottom normal or drone comb?
Hi Folks,
Looks like "Bridge Comb" to me.
Rather than take the "long way 'round" to get onto the frames, the bees build "a bridge" to facilitate travel to and between the frames. Hence the name, "Bridge comb".
Bees can "walk on a ceiling", but they got to get there first. Think about the paths they take through the hive. They can't jump. They can't somersault. They have to walk.
I actually have left chunks of comb between boxes to facilitate travel. Easy enough to "pry,... twist,... and lift" the frames. If you let it get too far, you have to "garotte" the boxes apart with a wire. I've never let it happen to me, but I have helped out others. Some people have actually lifted frames from the lower box by lifting straight up. Twist the box to break ant bridge comb.
I also have available a ten inch blade slicing knife to separate frames, from each other, and the sides of the box. I never let it get so extensive that they have brood or even nectar in there. No big deal.
BTW: I'm foundationless.
Just my thoughts.
Sal
I've seen bridge comb between frames to make travel easier, but this comb (it's normal. not drone) just goes to the screen (standard spaced screened bottom board), and I've never seen bees use it there for getting onto the frames... I put the third box on as they were using all the frames in the lower boxes and at this time of year figured that they would soon need the space. Some of the frames in the third box have drawn comb, and they are starting to store nectar there, but they have not drawn any of the bare frames (foundationless). I thought about pulling frames up into the third box, but figured that I'd just let them do their own thing as I don't think that they have resources enough to swarm.
If there is a mix of foundation and foundationless then they will fill the foundation first. They need fairly strong honey flow to fill open frames in a mixed situation.
I have noticed that some of my hives do this as well. It seems to have something to do with the screened bottom boards as they do not do it on my hives that have solid bottom boards. Maybe the extra air flow through the screen makes them think that they have room to build down until they hit the screen? Just a guess.