[papachappy7]

Really need some help with this one. My friend was checking his hive the other day when he noticed what looked like someone had taken a drill and bit and drilled a hole dead center of previously capped brood cells. You know how when you drill and withdraw the bit it brings some of the material out with it. It looked just like that and a perfectly round hole. It happened to about 10 to 15 cells in the middle of a patch of brood maybe 4 inches in diameter. What could have caused this? The cells were not discolored at all, everything else looked normal. Thanks for your help.

 

[Wanderlei]

Maybe they are showing a sort of hygienic trait of uncapping cells infected with varroa. That's my only guess. That would be pretty cool.

 

[Bob J]

Could be new bees emerging, particularly if they are in a group (ie eggs laid at the same time).....

 

[ericweller]

Do a toothpick test on the larvae of the chewed cells to verify that there isn't foulbrood. I learned in my certification class that half chewed cappings are one of the signs of foulbrood.

 

[AstroBee]

Pictures would be helpful.

 

[garyprunty]

sounds hygienic to me

http://beeinformed.org/2013/04/bald-brood/