Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: Kirk-o on December 01, 2006, 07:25:23 PM

Title: White Waxing Question
Post by: Kirk-o on December 01, 2006, 07:25:23 PM
White Waxing what is it and when does it occur
kirko :lol://
Title: Re: White Waxing Question
Post by: Michael Bush on December 01, 2006, 07:54:03 PM
It's when the bees top moving old wax around and start making new wax.  Usually just before the main flow.  But you can get some earlier if you put empty frames in the brood nest.
Title: Re: White Waxing Question
Post by: Cindi on December 02, 2006, 02:23:00 PM
Quote from: Michael Bush on December 01, 2006, 07:54:03 PM
It's when the bees top moving old wax around and start making new wax.  Usually just before the main flow.  But you can get some earlier if you put empty frames in the brood nest.


OK this is probably a silly question.  Michael you said "when the bees stop moving old wax around..."..do the bees reuse wax in their hive?  Like I guess when they are rebuilding the comb that may have been damaged by extracting honey.  Do they reuse this wax, if so, how on earth do they do it?  do they chew it up and put it to rebuild?  Great day.  Cindi
Title: Re: White Waxing Question
Post by: Michael Bush on December 02, 2006, 05:27:48 PM
Yes the bees move wax around, especially in the early spring.  Oddly they never seem to take it from anywhere except old perfectly good comb.  I've left cappings out many times and they only clean up the honey and never seem to take any significant amount of wax.  They just chew it up and put it where they want it.