weird comb formations

3687 Views 12 Replies 9 Participants Last post by plaztikjezuz, May 29, 2010

plaztikjezuz

Discussion Starter · May 24, 2010

so i went to feed my three week old package and inspect an over wintered hive i bought this spring. this is my first year at beekeeping.

the comb on the package bee's looks strange i took a few pictures of it. it sticks way out.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/plaztikjezuz/4633596293/in/set-72157623900667518/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/plaztikjezuz/4633597603/in/set-72157623900667518/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/plaztikjezuz/4633598719/in/set-72157623900667518/

the over wintered hive i bought this spring made some strange comb that had brood in it between the two supers. when i removed the top super, it came apart. the bees then went to town and ate the brood.
the guy i bought the hive from said to wach for swarm cells, is that what i destroyed?
i did find the queen in this hive.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/plaztikjezuz/4634247416/in/set-72157623900667518/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/plaztikjezuz/4634197754/in/set-72157623900667518/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/plaztikjezuz/4634199628/in/set-72157623900667518/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/plaztikjezuz/4633607535/in/set-72157623900667518/

this was a bee that was covered in what looked like brood guts, the bee looked very under developed, i am guessing she is a pre-me?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/plaztikjezuz/4633651245/in/set-72157623900667518/

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Your first set of pics is what happens occasionally when using duragilt foundation. The bees may have removed the wax from it and decided to make their own comb along side of it or the frames were to far apart and that is how they decided to build the comb.

The second set of pics is burr/bridge comb(which is normal) and that is probally drone larva.

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plaztikjezuz

Discussion Starter · #3 · May 24, 2010

Beeslave said:
Your first set of pics is what happens occasionally when using duragilt foundation. The bees may have removed the wax from it and decided to make their own comb along side of it or the frames were to far apart and that is how they decided to build the comb.

The second set of pics is burr/bridge comb(which is normal) and that is probally drone larva.

do you this that could have happened if the foundation was warped or not square in the frame?

here is a close up of the bee i think is premature
what do you think?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/plaztikjezuz/4634590374/in/set-72157623900667518/

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Beeslave

· #4 · May 24, 2010

If the foundation was warped so it created a wider space that could of caused it.

You bee looks like it has a bunch of goo dropped on it.

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Broke-T

· #5 · May 24, 2010

That is what I see a lot on Duragilt foundation. I bought a 100 sheets when I first started a cpl of years ago and it has been a disaster.

Never buy Duragilt.

Johnny

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Chick

· #6 · May 24, 2010

I see this condition routinely with the Plasticell, but never seen it with Duragilt. Be sure to use 10 frames in your brood box. Most people use 9 frames in their honey supers, but if you do that in your brood box, they build all kinds of burr comb, and it causes problems.

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MeriB

· #7 · May 24, 2010

My bees have also built this type of comb. Also some really fat piecesand then tunneled through them. I have been removing the playland and have been finding less and less. I have also found some single cells that are taller(?) than the ones around them. Not peanut likr. Don't know what it is, so have just left it.

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fish_stix

· #8 · May 25, 2010

MeriB; that's probably drone brood. Looks like a .22 bullet?

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stump56

· #9 · May 25, 2010

MeriB said:
My bees have also built this type of comb. Also some really fat piecesand then tunneled through them. I have been removing the playland and have been finding less and less. I have also found some single cells that are taller(?) than the ones around them. Not peanut likr. Don't know what it is, so have just left it.

yeah sounds like drone brood nothing to worry about.

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honeydreams

· #10 · May 25, 2010

happens to my new frames with plastic cell. they will do that then the next time wam its all good. great photos:applause:

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plaztikjezuz

Discussion Starter · #11 · May 29, 2010

honeydreams said:
happens to my new frames with plastic cell. they will do that then the next time wam its all good. great photos:applause:

I almost dropped the frame taking them.

I'm still a little to gun shy to go bare handed, but, i think if the bees wanted to sting me they could through those nitrile gloves. i mainly wear them now to keep the stick off my hands. i am out in the middle of no where and a no water fountain.

ok, enough caveats.

it was really hot, it is about average weather right now, i was sweating like mad. i had a little half inch slit in the tip of my left index finger. next thing you know i few this strange tickling on my finger. i focus through the veil and a bee was drinking my sweat through the slit in the glove. i was a little freaked out and quickly shooed the bee away. i also did not know if my sweat was the best beverage for my girls? oils, salt, germs, dust from the gloves, etc. but i was mainly freaked out by the fact i could feel her little tongue on my skin. not a big fan of my cats licking my, same goes for the bees. lol.

as an after thought i was like, that would have made a cool video, i have to confess. i am a communications major with an emphasis on audio and video editing, but, i have lots of experience shooting video. mainly sports (basketball) which is quick action. normally i just shoot as a reaction, but a more visceral core impulse took over and i dropped the camera and shooed that bee away. i do still photography as a hobby, more when i was younger, but you never forget framing and waiting for the shot.

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Peter

· #12 · May 29, 2010

Broke-T said:
That is what I see a lot on Duragilt foundation. I bought a 100 sheets when I first started a cpl of years ago and it has been a disaster.

Never buy Duragilt.

Johnny

Yes, had same issue. Duragilt is junk foundation. Bees never appear to actually build their comb on it but rather have their own wax attached to it like little islands. Then it tends to be attached to the next frame over and any movements warp the foundation in both frames. Finally have managed to pull all the duragilt frames and have replaced with real wired foundations which they are using with no issues.
Am azed that some people say it's great, am wondering what it is they do differently.

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plaztikjezuz

Discussion Starter · #13 · May 29, 2010

Peter said:
Yes, had same issue. Duragilt is junk foundation. Bees never appear to actually build their comb on it but rather have their own wax attached to it like little islands. Then it tends to be attached to the next frame over and any movements warp the foundation in both frames. Finally have managed to pull all the duragilt frames and have replaced with real wired foundations which they are using with no issues.
Am azed that some people say it's great, am wondering what it is they do differently.

i was totally sold on not having to use wire.
but to be honest, i am not canning the duragilt yet, i do not have a foundation installation board. so my foundation is not square in the frames and i really think that is my problem. building a boar before i put any more foundation in the frames.

i am going to order some wax foundation with wire in it and give them a try.

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