Newbie questions 2

[Rchel]

Hello,
Well, here are some more mind boggling questions... well maybe not.

Okay, Frames: In the cells of some... most of my frames have what looks like black wax. This morning I was poking it to see if it was AFB, but I don't know REALLY what it looks like completely. Anyway, I found a bunch of this stuff and began to investigate. They where black ( like I said) and they tilted ( one side was higher than the other). However, they did not feel very brittle like the post put on by Michael Bush said AFB indicated. Maybe this is just wax, but, are they supposed to have a whitish to clear substance underneath? maybe this is just a dead bug or bit of honey... I haven't a clue.

Here's another problem. Well, something I don't know what it is. In my honey comb, I found something that looks like frozen honey, it doesn't look evil. : ) It looks like the color of vanilla ice cream. I was thinking of tasting it, but decided against it.. just in case. I smelled it, but it didn't really have any smell either.

Maybe I'm just over worried, but, I would really like to keep my bees alive. AFB sounds so horrible, I wish to keep it FAR away from my future hives. But then, doesn't every bee keeper wish that?

Hope this makes sense, and maybe you all have a little insight. I'd put a picture of my black wax, but I messed it all up looking at it...besides, I not great at putting pictures into computers.

Thank you,
I luv bees

[Michael Bush]

>Okay, Frames: In the cells of some... most of my frames have what looks like black wax.

That's the normal color of brood comb.

>This morning I was poking it to see if it was AFB, but I don't know REALLY what it looks like completely. Anyway, I found a bunch of this stuff and began to investigate. They where black ( like I said) and they tilted ( one side was higher than the other). However, they did not feel very brittle like the post put on by Michael Bush said AFB indicated. Maybe this is just wax, but, are they supposed to have a whitish to clear substance underneath?

Whitish is probably a larvae you squished.  Clear would be honey.

>Here's another problem. Well, something I don't know what it is. In my honey comb, I found something that looks like frozen honey, it doesn't look evil. : ) It looks like the color of vanilla ice cream. I was thinking of tasting it, but decided against it.. just in case. I smelled it, but it didn't really have any smell either.

Crystallized honey probably.  Or white pollen.  Pictures of course would distinguish the two.

[TwT]

I agree with Mike on all above, you shouldn't worry so much about your bee's, just watch, learn and enjoy them, here's a link of diseases and pest with picks you can look at and learn from but don't worry so much about your bee's just enjoy them.

http://maarec.cas.psu.edu/pest&disease/pppdIndex.html

[Rchel]

Hello,
So the whitish stuff isn't something bad. Good!
"Don't worry". Sounds easy. putting it into practice might be hard.

Now, would larvea be in a comb when I don't know how old it is? Would'nt it decay be a couple months or so? I don't think this is a earth shaking question, but if you want to give some advice... I'll read what you have to say.

Thank you,
I luv bees