I've never had this black 'growth' in my jars/jugs. I switched from C&H sugar to a much cheaper sugar this year and I have to wonder if that didn't cause this. I am wondering if this is a mold. The 'new' sugar have Contents: Sugar stamped on the bags. Has anyone experienced this?
Black Mould (Mold in US) - sure - see this all the time if I don't add a splash of bleach to sugar syrup. I don't think it hurts the bees any, it just looks 'yucky'.
LJ
You can add a "splash" of vinegar to the sugar syrup to lower the pH. The natural pH of honey is around 4 or 5 so the bees will accept the sugar syrup with no problem and you will have eliminated any mold growth.
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