Pink Comb

[mayathebee]

I am just starting out beekeeping in the virgin islands. I have had a new hive taken from a local swarm for a couple months now. I've been checking the box every couple of weeks or so and I just noticed something different this last time and have been unable to find any information in my beekeeping manual or online.

The outer edges of the comb cells are pink! :confused: There is some new building that does not have it, and some older comb that seems to, but it's hard to tell if it is older comb that was just slightly built upon.

Does anyone know anything about this? My concern is that it is a fungus/disease growing on the comb or that it is an indication of unhealthy bees in some way...

[florida pollinator]

By the way you explained it I'm guessing your talking about the wax edges or tops of each cell , my guess would be something to do with some kind of tropical plant you have around and or the bees tracking over the comb and staining it.
I had an uncle that lived 25 years or so on st croix, and had bees there,I'll ask him if he ever seen anything such as that.
Maybe someone will have the answer.

[Michael Palmer]

What color pollen are they bringing in? Sometimes, the combs, frames, and the hive near the entrances are stained by the incoming pollen.

[mayathebee]

Something the bees are tracking on the comb makes sense since the pink is most common in the crowded areas. There is a tree nearby that has bark and leaves that stain things a reddish brown. I don't see why they would be getting into the bark or leaves of this tree, but maybe it stained the entrance where rain hits and they are just walking through it. Most of the pollen is a light yellow, but some of it is orange. I could see the orange darkening to a red/pink perhaps. Anyway, sounds like a harmless but interesting issue. Thanks!

[mobees]

It is probably propolis.

[mayathebee]

the color of the propolis around the rest of the hive is brown

[Ian]

>>and some older comb that seems to

Ya, I dont know the term to discribe it, but it happens to wax as it sits undisterbed for a while. It happens to light and dark wax, but you would see it more on your darker wax becasue this dusty like formation would show up easier.
It forms on the frames of my fall dead out thats in storage, and it forms on my processed white wax blocks.

I asked my wax renderer about this occurance, and cant remember the term he used to explain it, but it is normal, and not quite understood.
It shows up as you discribed because the wax is thin, and with the formation on both sides of the cell, the light penetration would make it look pink, "I would guess"
its what I see, but what does that count, I am colour blind! :)


Interesting stuff eh?

[Michael Palmer]

[QUOTE=Ian;285364 I asked my wax renderer about this occurance, and cant remember the term he used to explain it, but it is normal, and not quite understood.[/QUOTE]

The term is "bloom," Ian.

[Ian]

>>The term is "bloom," Ian.


Well there you go, isnt this fourm great!


mayathebee, thats my best guess,
What do you think?

[mayathebee]

Makes sense, although that might be because it sounds normal and harmless. Except it isn't powdery and is definitely a dark pink even without the light shining through thin comb.

Yes, this forum IS great - it's so amazing (and reassuring) to have access to so much experience from beekeepers all over the country and their knowledge of all the many bee occurrences, rare and common. Imagine having to learn all this from personal experience! ;)

[Ian]

Take a frame to one of your close neighbouring beekeepers or to your local beekeep inspector and see what they has to say about it.

Let us know!

[Oldbee]

All of the above ideas or speculations seem about right for the pink comb.

However, there are so many tropical plants growing in their natural environment that are probably very unfamiliar to most of us up here; at least for me.
Example: the Red Mangrove and,..the Turpentine Tree---"distinguished by its red peeling bark". Actually there are many plants that produce a layer of wax on their leaves, stems and fruit to protect themselves from adverse weather. In an article about the Wax Myrtle that grows in Florida, a related species,.. the Northern Bayberry has similar berries that are the commercial source of wax for the bayberry candles we burn at Christmas time. Also, the Wax Leaf Begonia and Desert Candle of Mexico; source of candelilla wax. Are your bees collecting some form of wax [or bloom] that is red or pink from some tropical plants? I DON'T KNOW! I also don't know if bees even collect "wax" this way. They do collect propolis from plants. Another possibility is "honeydew". Honeydew is secreted by small plant sucking insects like the scale insect and aphids. Sometimes this honeydew is collected by bees and can be a major nectar source in some parts of the world. Whether it can be red or pink and tinge the wax, I don't know. I can't help but think of Flamingos and the reason for their pink plumage; I know, that's a pretty far-fetched idea! lol.

There is the University of The Virgin Islands! Maybe their botany or entomology department would know something.

You could try this: Henry H. Smith, Phd. at the U. Virgin Islands. hsmith@uvi.edu Apparently this person maintains or has knowledge of the "Top Bar Hive".