[Alram]

I inspected a hive today and one frame had capped worker brood with a beautiful creamy light yellow cappings. Other frames had dirty dark brown cappings. Why such a difference. I assume that the cappings are all from new wax. Do they really change color that much in 2 weeks? Or do they sometimes chew up old wax from somewhere and use that for capping brood?

 

[Amibusiness]

They can recycle wax for cappings. On a flow they usually make new. Often the cappings on dark comb are darker because they pull a bit of wax from those combs. 2 weeks later the cappings can be very different colors. Also they get darker with age....

 

[Schultz]

I think there is very little, if any, wax in brood cappings.

 

[Honeyeater]

I think there is very little, if any, wax in brood cappings.

My understanding is that brood cappings are a mixture of wax and pollen, so that they are porous and larvae can breath. Honey cappings are pretty much 100% wax.

 

[Tigger19687]

I also had that light color cappings. When i first too a quick peek I thought it was a honey frame and was mad. I was lucky it was next to an egg frame