Found This Red Stuff On A Few Frames

6204 Views 10 Replies 9 Participants Last post by odfrank, Jun 16, 2014

tsbees

Discussion Starter · Jun 12, 2014

While going through one of our hives last week, we found this red stuff on just a couple of the frames. It was pretty firm, if not hard, when poked with a hive tool; and had no odor. The frames are located near the hive opening. We are located in Northeastern Illinois, just about two miles from the Indiana state line. I've asked around a few of the Facebook beekeeping groups and have heard it could be anything from propolis to hummingbird nectar. Just thought I'd seek a few more opinions. Thanks for the help!

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Barry Digman

· #2 · Jun 12, 2014

I'm assuming that the damage to the comb is from having been poked and prodded by a hive tool, otherwise there's a problem with how that comb looks regardless of the color.

If the comb looked normal other than the red color, I'd say it's just hummingbird feed or some other man-made sugar based liquid that your bees found useful.

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Honey-4-All

· #3 · Jun 12, 2014

Looks like propolis or some synthetic replacement which the bees often use when available. Had some stealing all the caulking off a trailer 20 years back. Took a while to figure out what was going on as grey propolis is very unusual especial in the yard they where gathering it in. BTW look like them bees need a good dose of syrup or three.......

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Becky Jackson

· #4 · Jun 12, 2014

It's definitely propolis. Why they feel the need to propolize by the entrance is anyone's guess. Maybe because many bees hate to use the plastic comb shown in the photos.
Becky

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Michael Bush

· #5 · Jun 12, 2014

Propolis from some poplar trees is red. Propolis from cottonwoods and other poplar trees can be green or even gray. I would guess propolis mixed with wax or just propolis.

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Pete O

· #6 · Jun 12, 2014

Looks like they all went out for a pizza and got sick.

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sqkcrk

· #7 · Jun 12, 2014

"Before the city." Propolis.

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Michael Bush

· #8 · Jun 13, 2014

Sometimes the propolis foragers set up a staging area to put the propolis for the propolis workers who are reinforcing cells, stopping cracks etc. ...

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JRG13

· #9 · Jun 16, 2014

You got any worker brood in that hive? Even the frame I can see in the box looks almost all drone brood.

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Honey-4-All

· #10 · Jun 16, 2014

JRG13 said:
You got any worker brood in that hive? Even the frame I can see in the box looks almost all drone brood.

Or worse.... Not looking very good. My bet is that hive is toast in a month or less.

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odfrank

· #11 · Jun 16, 2014

Red propolis. We get lots of it. Streams down the outside of boxes below holes on the boxes the bees are trying to plug. I have seen red propolis inside split eucalyptus logs.

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