Hi everybody.
This is my second year bee keeping, so I am very much a novice. I live in Oregon's Willamette Valley.
The bees are very active happy looking - a real joy to watch. I have two brood boxes and a shallow honey super with a queen excluder under it. Last year in August, I harvested honey - took 7 out of the 10 frames, and they were all completely full and meticulously capped in snow white wax. I haven't opened the hive in a year.
Today, I was surprised, when I did open it. I expected the super to be completely full (they have plenty of food here). It wasn't. Some frames, only had cells drawn out, but no honey yet. I took 5 of the frames and left the bees the other 5 for the winter. They look different than what I took last year though. Instead of all white, there is a like a big semi-circle near the bottom on most frames, where the cells look brown. What are they? I don't think they are brood cells, and the queen isn't supposed to be able to get up there, anyway. Are they just not completely done capping them? Photo attached. Is this maybe not ready to harvest yet? (oops, too late for that). Thank you so much for your insight and experience.
This is my second year bee keeping, so I am very much a novice. I live in Oregon's Willamette Valley.
The bees are very active happy looking - a real joy to watch. I have two brood boxes and a shallow honey super with a queen excluder under it. Last year in August, I harvested honey - took 7 out of the 10 frames, and they were all completely full and meticulously capped in snow white wax. I haven't opened the hive in a year.
Today, I was surprised, when I did open it. I expected the super to be completely full (they have plenty of food here). It wasn't. Some frames, only had cells drawn out, but no honey yet. I took 5 of the frames and left the bees the other 5 for the winter. They look different than what I took last year though. Instead of all white, there is a like a big semi-circle near the bottom on most frames, where the cells look brown. What are they? I don't think they are brood cells, and the queen isn't supposed to be able to get up there, anyway. Are they just not completely done capping them? Photo attached. Is this maybe not ready to harvest yet? (oops, too late for that). Thank you so much for your insight and experience.

