Greek hives with interesting frame/no frame combination

[tillie]

I was looking at some Greek bee blogs and found some interesting pictures on several sites as if this is how they plan their hives to go.  The hives are Langstroth boxes and appear to have frames in the center but not on the sides.  So when they lift the top, natural comb is attached to the top, but straight and beautiful as if planned that way.

Here is one picture from one site:
http://e-melissas.blogspot.com/2007/04/blog-post_644.html

Here's another from a different Greek bee blog - the post was too long so I just linked to the picture:
http://bp3.blogger.com/_yyaWvFVoEHs/Rgj_wQekZhI/AAAAAAAAAG0/UDa4p9FJXbU/s1600-h/free_comb3.JPG

What do you think is the plan/purpose?  Do people use this style of hive in the US?

Linda T in Atlanta

[Kirk-o]

I think that maybe on there supers they want some comb honey .I don't know for sure.But Tillie you always have the most interesting posts I love your blog to
kirko

[Understudy]

I was thinking the same thing it would be for comb honey.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

[Romahawk]

With eight frame boxes the 2 or 3 high configuration could be brood chambers and the natural comb on the outside would then more than likely be natural drone cells used for verroa traps instead of comb honey. It would be much easier removing it than it would be to pull a frame, cut out the drone comb and then replace the frame.

[UtahBees]

Yep, I agree. Having the natural comb or comb-honey for the selling season could be an extra item that some people request because of its shape. Very cool idea, yet you can immediately see how unefficient it can be compared to using the standard frames, as there is space that's wasted in the hive. No biggie though!

Awesome post - thanks!

[wayne]

 I don't read Greek, but it looks like examples of how bees will build in any open space they find. The one pic is a ventilation box over a full super. Maybe the others are an attempt to use boxes without enough frames.

[tillie]

So I posted this comment on his blog:

"I'm curious about the hive with the opened top showing freely built comb attached to top. There are frames in the center of the box with the free built comb on the edges. What is the purpose of this comb? Is it for comb honey? Or drone destruction? Or what? Curious US beekeepers want to know!!!"

Here's the address of the blog where the first picture came from:  http://greekbeekeeper.blogspot.com

This beekeeper has written comments in English on my blog, so I hope he'll respond and I'll let you all know.  The first picture is from a blog where I see no evidence of English, so didn't want to try to get an answer.  I do think it was done on purpose since comb like this is on two different blogs and shown with pride, it seems.

Linda T still curious in Atlanta

[tillie]

I heard from BeeHappy the Greek beekeeper.  This is what he said,

"Hi Linda,
The frames were in the center in order to be warmed better from the brood nest under them. There's no purpose for the free combs. This is due to the pine honey flow at that time, pine flow turn the bees crazy, and the lack of time as to inspect them earlier and put a new foundation.
The weather conditions this spring is ideal and the bees have built more than 2 kilos of free comb, unfortunately."

Interesting that this was true on two Greek blogs, making it look purposeful, but sounds like they didn't intend for this to happen - just like the recent post on this site (http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php?topic=9161.0).

Linda T