Newly built wax is brown

jmblakeney · April 19, 2011, 10:32:47 AM

Is this normal? I was feeding the "bee tree" hive and found some brand new comb attached to the inner cover. I thought new wax was white or did the bees not read the handbook? :-D

Course Bee · April 19, 2011, 10:52:06 AM

I used a couple of older brood comb frames in my first hives and some of the first comb they drew looked similar to yours. I didn't think they reused wax but it sure looked like it to me.

sc-bee · April 19, 2011, 11:14:29 AM

My understanding is they will move wax within the hive and re-use it on a have to basis. Have you ever put foundation in and they didn't draw it but left it on and they chewed holes in it? It is not uncommon to see brown or dark wax before a flow is on. But you can not just lay used wax out of the hive and they gather and re-use it.

You are correct new wax during feeding and a flow should be white.

jmblakeney · April 19, 2011, 11:27:04 AM

The comb picture looks a lil ruff, my five yr old son had been playing with it. I gave it to him after I scraped it off. The idea of them reusing old wax makes since, but I'd never heard of that. That would give it the darker color.

Being new to the hobby I'm not sure if there is a flow or not.

G3farms, you are the closest one to me. Is there a flow going now?

Scadsobees · April 19, 2011, 11:38:50 AM

Yes, that is definately re-used, re-worked comb. Seems to me on older hives they reuse it quicker because they may not have the wax-producers revved up to full speed yet. You can see whiter spots on the edges of the cells from the new wax.

VolunteerK9 · April 19, 2011, 01:03:15 PM

Quote from: jmblakeney on April 19, 2011, 11:27:04 AM

G3farms, you are the closest one to me. Is there a flow going now?

Yeah, our flow is getting kicked off now

BjornBee · April 19, 2011, 04:51:14 PM

Yes, bees rework wax. And yes, they strip off wax foundation and use it, especially when the flow stops or after the summer solstice, days get shorter, and they go into a "frugal" period.

Bees normally do not make wax until temps are steady above 65 degrees.

Foundation destruction was one of those things that for many years was noted in books as being a result of "bored" bees with nothing to do in late summer. Just another example of stuff in books shown to be wrong, by anyone with an observation hive and some time on their hands to be observant.

And if you take it one step further........it should make you think about those slick marketing instructions peddled by industry folks and researchers who sell treatments with some idea that the nasty chemicals should only be used with supers not on the hive. Like they think were all idiots and can't figure out that nasty tainted wax in the brood chamber will not be used by bees in the supers or for later season capping of a late flow. :roll:

The Bix · April 19, 2011, 04:55:27 PM

I saw the same thing in one of my hives that I inspected this past Sunday. I had partially drawn foundationless frame that i stuck in there a few weeks ago. The "new" comb that was drawn out on the frame was darker than the stuff that was there from last year. I wondered about that...thanks for asking the question.

Jim134 · April 19, 2011, 06:37:27 PM

Quote from: jmblakeney on April 19, 2011, 10:32:47 AM
I thought new wax was white or did the bees not read the handbook? :-D

:lau: :lau: :lau: :lau: :lau: :lau: :lau:

BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)

jmblakeney · April 19, 2011, 08:33:03 PM

Quote from: VolunteerK9 on April 19, 2011, 01:03:15 PM
Yeah, our flow is getting kicked off now

Thanks K9, I had no clue. I guess that knowledge comes with experience. I'll be working in your neck of the woods tomorrow, on Shallowford Rd, if you know where that is.

I just checked the sugar water and saw some white comb down in there being built.

I appreciate all of the input. I learned something new today.

VolunteerK9 · April 20, 2011, 09:52:13 AM

Quote from: jmblakeney on April 19, 2011, 08:33:03 PM
Shallowford Rd, if you know where that is.

I appreciate all of the input. I learned something new today.

Yup, you went to Chattanooga-about 40 minutes from me.

I learn something new on here everyday.

Another thing I would recommend is to start a calendar. I just printed a blank one off of MS Office and write down everything that you see going on for next years reference. I just started one this year and Ive noted things like first dandelions, peach tree bloom, white wax in hives,first drones etc. to give me an idea on when to start expecting things for next year for better hive management.

G3farms · April 20, 2011, 10:07:03 AM

Hey JM sorry I missed your post but yes the flow is ramping up, look around at all of the different things that are blooming, I try to find honeybees working in all kinds of flowers.

Yes bees will reuse wax and propolis, I have watched them come to the porch at the house and chew it up and fly off with it. They will stick it on their pollen baskets.

Terrex · April 20, 2011, 05:04:16 PM

Old Wax? I am new at this. But the swarm that I have is stealing wax from a catch box that a man placed on our property. He looked in it because he was seeing bees go in and out of it. Yep, they were mine. My hive has a new queen, and she is very fertile and getting busy. They are jumping thur themselves to keep up with her. He just laughed and said "let them have it"
Teresa