Is This Brood?

David LaFerney · May 22, 2009, 04:47:25 AM

I looked first, but there isn't a sub-category called "Stupid Newbee Questions". These bees were hived from a package 10 days ago, and I looked and looked for a the Queen or some tiny little eggs - no luck - then it dawned on me (while I'm trying to sleep at 2:30 am) that I could actually have capped brood by now. So I got up and zoomed in on some of the pictures that my wife took from about 15 feet away and sure enough it looks to me like that could be capped brood. Only I don't know exactly what it looks like.

So what do you think? is this capped brood, or honey?

zoomed a little tighter:

Can anyone recommend a good non-habit-forming sleep aid?

adgjoan · May 22, 2009, 06:28:51 AM

I see larva in thr 2end pic lower left corner. BTW I get some of my best brain farts when I wake up in the middle of the nite.

Joan

G3farms · May 22, 2009, 07:28:54 AM

Looks like capped brood to me.

How long has the package been installed?

G3

David LaFerney · May 22, 2009, 08:21:41 AM

Quote from: G3farms on May 22, 2009, 07:28:54 AM
Looks like capped brood to me.

How long has the package been installed?

G3

10 days. If she went right to work it would be just enough.

David LaFerney · May 22, 2009, 08:24:58 AM

Quote from: adgjoan on May 22, 2009, 06:28:51 AM
I see larva in thr 2end pic lower left corner. BTW I get some of my best brain farts when I wake up in the middle of the nite.

Joan

I hope you're right about the larva. I bet you are.

I think your subconscious wakes you up when it thinks it's come up with something important.

JP · May 22, 2009, 08:48:11 AM

There may be some capped brood dead center of the second pic, hard to tell by these pictures.

Does it look like this?

...JP

David LaFerney · May 22, 2009, 08:52:53 AM

Quote from: JP on May 22, 2009, 08:48:11 AM
There may be some capped brood dead center of the second pic, hard to tell by these pictures.

Does it look like this?

...JP

I don't know, kinda. I wish it did. That one looks nearly perfect.

When I was looking for the queen I wasn't even thinking of capped brood or larva as a possibility yet so I wasn't really looking for them.

Scadsobees · May 22, 2009, 09:03:16 AM

That looks like brood to me. I second the larvae in the lower left, and the cappings are just opaque enough to be brood, versus honey which is typically a little more translucent and not as consistent colored.

Rick

G3farms · May 22, 2009, 09:38:20 AM

I zoomed in on the pic and yes that is larva in the bottom pic.

G3

Robo · May 22, 2009, 09:40:15 AM

Yes it is capped brood.

It looks like you are doing foundationless, which means the bees are frantically trying to build comb and the comb that is built is in high demand for pollen storage, nectar storage and brood rearing. With the need for comb and the shortage of it, they grab what they can for each purpose and therefore there is intermixing and that is why you don't have a nice solid pattern, but voids. They may start storing nectar and pollen in a cell and then move it and then the queen will lay in it putting that cell a day or so behind adjacent cells. If you look close, there are no empty cells, so resources are all being used and just intermingled.

As far as sleep aids, a tablespoon of honey before bed works wonders. Read the Hibernation Diet.....

Kathyp · May 22, 2009, 10:20:15 AM

at least you had pics to look at and didn't have to sneak out to the hive in the middle of the night.

pictures are invaluable. we see so much when we can take our time and look at them. they are especially great when you are just learning or have questions for the forum.

well done. grab a nap today :-D

Doby45 · May 22, 2009, 10:25:09 AM

You could always just scrap the cap on a cell too. I had a second box on a hive and it was filling with nectar and honey and then there was a patch in the center that looked kinda like brood but it was in the middle of a nectar frame. So I scratched a cap and sure enough it was brood. I was pleased to see the queen had visited the upper box.

Buzzen · May 22, 2009, 02:18:45 PM

Nice pics.

Sean Kelly · May 22, 2009, 02:53:51 PM

Quote from: David LaFerney on May 22, 2009, 04:47:25 AM
Can anyone recommend a good non-habit-forming sleep aid?

A good whack from a cast iron frying pan always works and is non-habbit forming, although it gives you a head ache just as bad as sleeping pills will give you.

Check with your doctor, there might be an underlying reason why you're not sleeping well. Could have sleep apnea. Or like me, I had carpal tunnel in both hands which kept waking me several times each night. Had surgery and I'm cured!!!!

Sean Kelly

David LaFerney · May 22, 2009, 11:06:13 PM

Quote from: Robo on May 22, 2009, 09:40:15 AM
Yes it is capped brood.

It looks like you are doing foundationless, which means the bees are frantically trying to build comb and the comb that is built is in high demand for pollen storage, nectar storage and brood rearing. With the need for comb and the shortage of it, they grab what they can for each purpose and therefore there is intermixing and that is why you don't have a nice solid pattern, but voids. They may start storing nectar and pollen in a cell and then move it and then the queen will lay in it putting that cell a day or so behind adjacent cells. If you look close, there are no empty cells, so resources are all being used and just intermingled.

As far as sleep aids, a tablespoon of honey before bed works wonders. Read the Hibernation Diet.....

Good information. Thanks.

David LaFerney · May 22, 2009, 11:09:32 PM

Quote from: kathyp on May 22, 2009, 10:20:15 AM
at least you had pics to look at and didn't have to sneak out to the hive in the middle of the night.

pictures are invaluable. we see so much when we can take our time and look at them. they are especially great when you are just learning or have questions for the forum.

well done. grab a nap today :-D

Thanks. I can't picture going out in the middle of the night though. I am glad I had the pictures - My wife took them. I think she's surprised at how interested she is in my new hobby.

blckoakbees · May 23, 2009, 06:54:08 AM

I see larva also. As for the sleeping problems. I get on this website and read. After a half hour my mind is clear and I go back to sleep. You guys didn't know what a service you are performing not only giving great advice, but helping those of us who occasionally have difficulty sleeping.

Barry · May 23, 2009, 01:03:25 PM

Yeah that's brood comb no doubt about it mostly sealed brood in middle mature larvae on outside edges--what I don't quite understand id why would anyone want to force the bees to manufacture the singular most resource expensive produce the base of the combs the foundation as it were when you can provide it for them or is this one of those 4.9 attempts to try to varroa proof your bees. Just wondering.
Barry

Barry · May 23, 2009, 03:04:12 PM

As for a good sleep aid might I suggest a good pot of fresh perked coffee, never put me to sleep, but atleast I was drinking something I actually enjoyed, and coffee NEVER interfered with my sleep.
Barry

Kathyp · May 23, 2009, 03:54:56 PM

melatonin. you will get a good night sleep and not be hung over in the morning. one added advantage is that for the first week or so, you will have vivid dreams. they are awesome. make sure you read a really good book before dropping off. you may find yourself riding dragons, or killing bad guys through the night! :evil: