cluster of drone comb?

[rookie2531]

I was in the hives yesterday and noticed one hive had a cluster of drone comb, about the size of my fist. It has been getting cold at night, around 48 last couple nights. I did not see any open larva in any of the top supers, I'm guessing that this is normal for her to slow down laying, even when I'm feeding.

[GSF]

Where there any worker brood in there?

[BeeMaster2]

Rookie,
My observation hive has been slowly making comb all summer. They have made drone brood comb in several areas around the hive but they have never had even one drone larvae in the hive. They fill them with nectar. Drone cells hold more honey than worker cells for the same area.
Jim

[rookie2531]

Gary, Worker brood was all around it, but the worker brood was emerged and empty, no honey in it all all.

Jim, I am not sure but cappings on there stores look to be different than capped larva, and the drone brood is capped even rounded like bullets.

Is this a sign of them dealing with mites? My thought anyway.

[BeeMaster2]

Rookie.
If the cells are capped with bullet shaped caps, that is drone brood. Usually, unless the cells are too short.
Jim

[BeeMaster2]

Rookie,
Sounds like you have a flow on. If you do the bees will allow them to develop. If not they will remove the drone from the cells or remove them as they hatch.
Jim