Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: baudercook on April 30, 2007, 04:09:50 PM

Title: What is this red-orange color in this comb cell? see photo
Post by: baudercook on April 30, 2007, 04:09:50 PM
My son-in-law and I each installed a package of bees one week ago.  The packages arrived together, but the hives are now 1/2 mile apart.  This red-orange color is showing up on several places on my frames (on foundation).  And in this photo it appears on some new comb that the bees built off of the queen cage in my son-in-law's hive.  Is this something to be concerned about? The URL of the image is at http://countryrisers.com/images/comb.jpg
Title: Re: What is this red-orange color in this comb cell? see photo
Post by: UtahBees on April 30, 2007, 04:23:04 PM
Now, I'm a newbie, but it appears that you have some pollen in there. That would be very nice!

UtahBees
Title: Re: What is this red-orange color in this comb cell? see photo
Post by: RiceLake on April 30, 2007, 04:24:24 PM
Looks like pollen to me.

Title: Re: What is this red-orange color in this comb cell? see photo
Post by: baudercook on April 30, 2007, 04:28:12 PM
The color is embedded in the wax at the bottom of the cell. Is that how they store pollen?
Title: Re: What is this red-orange color in this comb cell? see photo
Post by: Understudy on April 30, 2007, 04:33:29 PM
Yes that is pollen.
And yes it will cause the wax to change color but not as much as bees with dirty feet tracking across the wax will.

Sincerely,
Brendhan
Title: Re: What is this red-orange color in this comb cell? see photo
Post by: baudercook on April 30, 2007, 04:56:25 PM
Thank you all.  Now I can spend my time worrying about something else!
Title: Re: What is this red-orange color in this comb cell? see photo
Post by: UtahBees on April 30, 2007, 05:18:03 PM
Yes, exactly! You can see a similar photo of mine from last Saturday here:

flickr.com/photos/barl0w/476273005/in/set-72157600151981526

Regards,

UtahBees
Title: Re: What is this red-orange color in this comb cell? see photo
Post by: baudercook on April 30, 2007, 06:26:10 PM
Those are great photos UtahBees! That gives me an idea to take lots photos for my next inspection.  That way I can spend more time looking over the details and maybe even find my queen.
Title: Re: What is this red-orange color in this comb cell? see photo
Post by: UtahBees on April 30, 2007, 11:52:36 PM
Right! I take a ton of photos while inspecting to see if there is something I missed, and to make a photo log. Helps me remember, as this being my first year, it'll be a memorable one with the photos, I'm sure.

:mrgreen:

Thanks everyone! I'm learning a lot here!
Title: Re: What is this red-orange color in this comb cell? see photo
Post by: qa33010 on April 30, 2007, 11:57:11 PM
   With my digital I use the motion picture sometimes.  Caught the tail (no pun intended) end of a bee dance.  She had a bunch of pollen all over her.