I have a 10 day old cut out in the back yard. Today I noticed the Rubber Bands that I used to strap the comb in the frames was being piled up out side the doorstep. Looks like they chewed them off. Had no idea this might happen, thought I would have to take them off when I did a two week check. Is this normal??
I used string, they did the same thing. One of the strings wouldn't come all the way out and I saw a bee holding the end of the string, pulling, in flight, just beyond the landing board. Like a little tug boat.
It is interesting to watch them chew through the rubber bands. There will be a dozen or so just chewing away until it snaps, then they chew it away from the comb and finally pull it off from the frame.
I usually just pick them up after they feel they don't need them anymore.
I set up an observation hive using comb suspended by rubber bands. It was totally fascinating watching those bees cut the bands and pull them like a snake out of the hive. They never gave up. So far they have been working on them about four weeks and still haven't got them all out......just one or two left.
A swarm I caught moved a Q-tip out of the hive box. I used it to apply LGO and just tossed it inside the hive. I found it on the ground on day 2 of the swarm moving in. pretty neat that they like to keep a clean place.
Totally normal...and totally cool. Every time I see the bands on the ground in front of a hive I just shake my head and chuckle...:lpf:
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