Funny comb and queen cups

Cindi · September 22, 2007, 12:37:10 PM

Go figure, so this is the kind of antics that my bees are up to using the Pierco plastic foundation frames. I have removed many very oddly built comb on the frames. This is one of the strangest building projects that I have seen so far (and there has been many on these plastic frames).

I am going to bite the bullet next year and get wooden frames, wax foundation to replace all the plastic frames. Another thing that I don't particularly like about the plastic frames is that the bees get stuck in the hollow places on the side of the frames, I see many a bee has met its maker in the hollows.

I always spray the plastic frames with s.s. when I give them to the bees, but still, they don't like to draw good foundation. Maybe these bees are just too picky.

I think that Michael Bush said that he rubs beeswax on plastic foundation. Correct me if my memory doesn't well serve me.

I may try this with some of them and see if it makes a difference, but I am going back to the "tried and true".

Have this wonderful day, this beautiful life and love this one we're livin'. Cindi

annette · September 22, 2007, 01:09:29 PM

Cindi

When I was using the plastic frames (I am now letting them draw their own wax combs on starter strips) I always brushed melted beeswax onto the frames to attract them. I never had any problem with them using the plastic frames. I think that this time of the year they will not be doing to much wax building anyway.

But they really love to build their own wax combs. If you ever were to see this, you would never go back to plastic. They do something called festooning and it is so beautiful to see.

Take Care
Annette

Understudy · September 22, 2007, 01:49:41 PM

This what I love about this forum we can do the same thing with different results.

Cindi,

Was this the top box?

The reason I ask is those look like swarm cells. Why do I say that? Because with the plastic frames you don't always have the ablity to make the icicle type comb at the bottom you would normally see. So my very limited guess is that is a set of improvised swarm cells. I find it fascinating even if they are not.

Yes, Michael and I both rub beeswax and sugar water on our frames.

I use the permacomb. Which is fully drawn cells for mediums.

Isn't beekeeping wonderful. 8-)

Sincerely,
Brendhan

Michael Bush · September 22, 2007, 03:10:26 PM

>I think that Michael Bush said that he rubs beeswax on plastic foundation. Correct me if my memory doesn't well serve me.

Well, I wax dip the PermaComb but that's to get smaller cells. I'm too lazy to rub wax on the plastic, but I buy it wax coated...

Cindi · September 23, 2007, 11:52:54 AM

Annette, one of the fascinating things of the bees is the festooning that they do, and yep they really are visible on the starter strip foundation. But, they also festoon when foundation is given too, just on either side of the foundation (and festooning all over the place).

I tried some starter strip this season, some frames they did not even touch, other frames were built only partways, a few were built fully out, but not attached at the bottom. THis was an experiment for me, using the plastic frames that my husband cut the foundation out of, leaving about an inch on the top and a teeeny tiny bit on the sides and bottom, because he couldn't get it completely flush. I was not impressed. The frame that was drawn almost completely to the bottom is flimsy. I picked one up the other day and the comb almost fell out of the frame, :), gave me a bit of a scare, so I moved it gently to the completely vertical position. I imagine one day that comb will be tough.

Brendhan, yep, the frame was in the top box, probably swarm cells that never went anywhere. I have more pictures of this funny comb in the hive. I will have to find the pics and get them forum ready :)

I am going to do an experiment for next year. That will be during my leisure time this winter :roll:. I will apply some wax to a box of the plastic foundation and see if the bees accept these, we'll see, I'll let you guys all know next season, so many months from now.

It is funny, the downtime, away from the bees is coming on fast. I remember last winter thinking that I would have so much time to do so many things around my home that I just don't get the chance to do during spring and summer. But I don't think I got very much done. Don't know why, maybe just because I get really lazy in winter and don't do an awful lot, other than read and do the forum thing. Hmmm....plans for those rainy days, keep planning.

It is the season for homemade soup!!!! Oops, off topic, I make great soups and stews!!!!! Have a wonderful day, best of this great life we live. Cindi

Michael Bush · September 23, 2007, 12:25:11 PM

>The frame that was drawn almost completely to the bottom is flimsy. I picked one up the other day and the comb almost fell out of the frame

Sometimes a brand new wax comb full of honey looks like it's made of jelly it's so soft and movable. It is scary to handle one of those. But they get tougher in just a few days and even tougher in a couple of weeks.

MBrowne · September 24, 2007, 12:07:23 AM

Cindi,
I had some odd comb built on my Pierco last year. I used a lot of Mann Lake PF-120 this year and every frame looks great!

Michael Bush · September 24, 2007, 08:03:26 AM

>Go figure, so this is the kind of antics that my bees are up to using the Pierco plastic foundation frames.

That's what you get for not using foundation. Oh, wait, you ARE using foundation. :)

Robo · September 24, 2007, 09:18:48 AM

Cindi,

Where the frames pushed tightly together? Sometimes if the gap is too big between the plastic sheets, they will build "their own" comb.

Sometimes it it "something else" that causes them to do it.

Dadant use to sell 4.9 plastic foundation. That stuff was notorious for causing issues similar to your picture. It was like rolling a die if they would draw it correct or not. I had some that where drawn beautifully on one side and similar to yours on the other. They have since stopped selling it, not sure why, but I speculate this was why.

Michael Bush · September 24, 2007, 09:23:52 AM

>Dadant use to sell 4.9 plastic foundation. That stuff was notorious for causing issues similar to your picture.

True. That's what they did for me with it...

>They have since stopped selling it, not sure why, but I speculate this was why.

That's my best guess.

Cindi · September 24, 2007, 10:50:56 AM

The frames were pushed tightly together, plastic Pierco, uh uh, nope, changing back to wooden and wax foundation. Even the starter strips were either untouched or drawn really weird. I have to start another topic to post more ugly strange comb, you'll see it in the next post, I still have this time out gateway thing that I have to phone my cable guys about. Have a wonderful day, best of this beautiful life. Cindi