what are dark areas on foundation

[MikeG]

Can anyone tell me why there was a 2" diameter circle of dark foundation in the bottom of my medium super foundations?  The honey seemed ok.  Some of the frames had the dark foundation in more of an oval pattern at the bottom.  The wax seemed contaminated because it was dark and normal in the same cell.  It also seems softer than the more normal colored cells in the dark areas.  Thanks for any help.

Mike

[drobbins]

sounds like some brood was raised in it
did you use a queen excluder?

Dave

[MikeG]

No, I did not.

I had a deep and two mediums below the medium super.  I assume the honey from those areas was ok if brood was raised in it?

[sc-bee]

The dark is from cocoons where brood hatched.

Some folks run excluder's because they don't like the dark cocoon areas in their honey supers. It is a matter of opinion. It doesn't hurt the honey (but of course that is a matter of opinion).

It does increase the chance of getting wax moths in your honey supers when stored.