What is this weird grainy stuff on my bottom board?

Nyleve · April 06, 2014, 09:25:52 PM

I was messing around with my hive today - pulling out the dead bodies from the bottom,putting syrup feeder in the top, and just generally having a look on this nice day. The bees were in a good mood so I took my time. I pulled out the bottom board insert and found a small pile of granular material in one corner. I see mouse poop also, and some parts of dead bees that must have fallen through the screened bottom, but I have no idea what the grainy stuff is. Any ideas? It has a sandy texture and yellowish and whitish. I am in Ontario so no pollen out yet - this is the very beginning of the season here.

I have a photo but can't figure out how to include it with this message. Help?

Steel Tiger · April 07, 2014, 01:39:55 AM

could be wax cappings and last years pollen. Since it's in a pile, check the frames above and see if there is stored honey and pollen.

JackM · April 07, 2014, 08:26:22 AM

Quote from: Steel Tiger on April 07, 2014, 01:39:55 AM
could be wax cappings and last years pollen. Since it's in a pile, check the frames above and see if there is stored honey and pollen.

Probably capping leftovers

Nyleve · April 07, 2014, 09:29:32 AM

Hah. How weird, though, that it's all in a single pile. I guess that must be where most of the stores were located. It does look like chewed-up cappings and pollen

I'm still trying to find out how to post a photo - the one I have is pretty clear.

Nyleve · April 07, 2014, 09:34:14 AM

Ok, got it. So what's the diagnosis?

G3farms · April 07, 2014, 09:44:59 AM

wax cappings where they chewed the caps off to get to the honey stores.

Nyleve · April 07, 2014, 10:56:32 AM

Ok that's good, then. Glad to hear its normal. Thanks!

buzzbee · April 07, 2014, 06:20:51 PM

It may be granulated honey.

Nyleve · April 07, 2014, 07:17:02 PM

Either way, that's ok. I was thinking to taste it. It then I got queasy in case it totally wasn't honey or anything else made by bees...

G3farms · April 07, 2014, 09:22:46 PM

If it dissolves in warm water then crystallized honey or syrup.

buzzbee · April 07, 2014, 09:23:28 PM

I was on my nexus viewing the photo before. Now that I'm on the desktop,I say wax cappings also.

buzzbee · April 07, 2014, 09:24:04 PM

But taste is always a good verification! :-D :-D

Nyleve · April 08, 2014, 09:18:47 AM

Good OR bad. I was imagining what ELSE it could be but I really didn't want to find out by tasting...