Odd thing that I am hoping you might be able to shed some light on.
I been having problems with bees building comb in a hive top feeder. They just love doing it and storing the adjacent syrup in this newly built comb. I removed a large chunk (about 4" diameter) of it the other day, and noticed it was chock full of syrup and some pollen likely from the pollen patty I left on top of the brood frames.
I figured they would not be able to recycle the comb, but would 'clean' out the comb of the goodies they stored. I tossed it in the bottom of the brood chamber and came back a few days to inspect and remove. To my amazement, the comb was completely devoid of food - but... it now had eggs in it. The comb was somewhat mangled from me taking it out with a hive tool and it was not attached to any wall - just sitting there against a wall along the screened bottom board with eggs.
I removed the bees that were on it and discarded it. I just never expected to find them using that comb for brood given it was not attached or even repairable. I am thinking that in the future I will just toss it and not attempt to recycle.
Have you seen this before?
I been having problems with bees building comb in a hive top feeder. They just love doing it and storing the adjacent syrup in this newly built comb. I removed a large chunk (about 4" diameter) of it the other day, and noticed it was chock full of syrup and some pollen likely from the pollen patty I left on top of the brood frames.
I figured they would not be able to recycle the comb, but would 'clean' out the comb of the goodies they stored. I tossed it in the bottom of the brood chamber and came back a few days to inspect and remove. To my amazement, the comb was completely devoid of food - but... it now had eggs in it. The comb was somewhat mangled from me taking it out with a hive tool and it was not attached to any wall - just sitting there against a wall along the screened bottom board with eggs.
I removed the bees that were on it and discarded it. I just never expected to find them using that comb for brood given it was not attached or even repairable. I am thinking that in the future I will just toss it and not attempt to recycle.
Have you seen this before?