Filled Comb ... How do you interpet what you're looking at?

[Tucker1]

This weekend I inspected by hive and was pleased to see a lot of progress made by my bees. I looked at the comb and it was very white and clean. About 2/3 of the comb was capped. The capped comb was located on the top sections of 3 frames. The caps on the filled comb had a slight outward dome. Looking at the section of the capped comb, there were very few uncapped comb. Just a 1/2 dozen or so, and these were very random.

I'm assuming that the queen is doing her job and laying her eggs where she's suppose to.  She seems to be very methodical in her laying, not missing very many opportunities to lay eggs in available empty comb.

I'm also assuming that the domed comb has larva and nothing else.

Here is where a lack of experience shows up.  What am I really looking at ?

Regards,
Tucker

[randydrivesabus]

the domed comb is drones.

[Cindi]

Tucker, if the domed comb looks like an extended bump, then I would say too that it is drone comb, and there would be nothing else in that comb.  Do some searching on drone comb to corroborate what you are seeing, it is important to know for your own peace of mind.      Have the best of this wonderful and beautiful day, Cindi

 

[Tucker1]

Cindi & Randy:  The coverings over the cells are white in color and slightly raised.  By raised, I mean by about 1/32th of an inch. (~ 1 mm). They are not perfectly flat.

Do either of you have a picture of "worker" comb and/or "drone" comb that I might be able to compare. I guess I can't tell the difference between a bump and an extended bump.  (Does that make any sense?). :?

Regards,
Tucker

[Sean Kelly]

Sounds like capped honey.  Was it around the edges of the brood?  Usually capped brood is a paperbag-brown color and capped honey is white at first, then darkening after the bees travel across it over time.  Drone cells are usually unmistakable, they stand out above everything else.  The easiest way of checking is to take your hive tool and open one up!  If there's a larve or pupae in there, then you know it's a drone!

Sean Kelly

[dlmarti]

This was the best advice ever given to me, I'll pass it on...

If you don't know what your looking at, take a pen knife and open it up and find out.

Yeah I know, you will certainly kill a few bees, but the knowledge you gain is going to save a whole lot more.

Remember the Queen is laying up to 2000 per day, if she loses a few to you so you'll learn, its no big deal.

[Kathyp]

http://www.skylon.co.uk/bees/

http://www.beecare.com/indexDynFrames.htm?http://www.beecare.com/Encyclopedia/Encyclopedia%20D.htm&1

http://www.beebehavior.com/bee_enemies.php

http://www.masterbeekeeper.org/B_files/dronecomb_exchange.htm
on this one, fig. 5 might give you the best contrast picture even though it is small.

once you see the difference, you will not have any problem recognizing it in the future.

[doak]

The capping  on both drone and worker cells will be a brown paper bag color. White if honey, until it gets travel stained. When honey is first capped it will have a slight dome.
doak

[Kathyp]

http://cookalmostanything.blogspot.com/2007/09/heritage-honey.html

http://bp0.blogger.com/_N9s-wZxuxCs/RrfPAja9yNI/AAAAAAAAAbI/oCTPrc4UG8w/s1600-h/IMG_3662b.jpg
nice pic of honey across the top and brood in the center.

[Tucker1]

Thanks for all of the help and advise.  The pictures really helped.  The domed comb that I saw on Saturday looked just like the capped comb in the center of this picture.

http://bp0.blogger.com/_N9s-wZxuxCs/RrfPAja9yNI/AAAAAAAAAbI/oCTPrc4UG8w/s1600-h/IMG_3662b.jpg

So, I'm guessing that it's brood.   It did not look like the capped comb at the top of the pictured frame.

I was sweating bullets for a while, thinking I might have some serious problems with only drone comb.

I am going to take the advise that you gave me on opening up some of the capped comb, just to get an idea of what I'm suppose to see inside.

Thanks again for all the help.

Warm Regards,
Tucker

[doak]

Be a good time while your in there to take a close look and see if you see any varroa mites.
doak

[Cindi]

Tucker1, just thought I would give a couple of pictures here.

Drone, see the big eyes, all the better to see the queen way up in the air



A bunch of drone cells



Drone cells on the bottom left and a queen cell nearly capped on the right



It sounds like you have already figured it out, but pics are interesting to look at, enjoy.  Have the best of this day, Cindi

[golddust-twins]

Excellent pics Cindi.  Boy does that ever clarify any question as to what one has in their hive.  Definately helps me out.  Thanks a lot for sharring these.

Corinne

[derrick1p1]

It looks like your question has been answered, but when I try to explain what drone cells look like, I tell people they look like "Kix" cereal (at least they do to me).

Derrick

[Cindi]

Corrine, you are welcome.  Sometimes people say that drone cells look like bullets, personally, I see absolutely not even one likening to a bullet shape.  Oh well, beautiful and most wonderful day, Cindi