Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: Georgia Boy on April 30, 2013, 10:35:13 pm

Title: Did I see what I think I saw?????
Post by: Georgia Boy on April 30, 2013, 10:35:13 pm

Saw a bee yesterday while watching not bothering my bees who came out of the entrance and went back in, then came out, went back in, and did this again and again and again. I noticed something on it abdomen kinda looked like pollen but firmer. Then today I saw the same thing. Then I realized it wasn't pollen but I think it was wax the bee was excreting.

Is this possibly what I saw? Do bees walk around with wax hanging off themselves?

Just curious.

David

Title: Re: Did I see what I think I saw?????
Post by: BeeMaster2 on April 30, 2013, 10:52:14 pm

Was it a clear flake on the under side of her abdomen? If so then yes. What color was it.
Jim

Title: Re: Did I see what I think I saw?????
Post by: Georgia Boy on April 30, 2013, 10:56:12 pm

Maybe clear or vanilla. Almost looked like a scale.

Title: Re: Did I see what I think I saw?????
Post by: Kathyp on April 30, 2013, 11:02:35 pm

that's wax.  you must have a good flow going?

Title: Re: Did I see what I think I saw?????
Post by: BeeMaster2 on April 30, 2013, 11:02:52 pm

Bees have 4 glands, 2 on each side, they make them like we grow finger nails.
Jim

Title: Re: Did I see what I think I saw?????
Post by: Georgia Boy on April 30, 2013, 11:21:17 pm

That is kinda what it looked like a finger nail.  Too cool.  

Good flow and I am still feeding this last syrup. New pkg and no foundation. Will stop when the top feeder is empty.

Title: Re: Did I see what I think I saw?????
Post by: BeeMaster2 on April 30, 2013, 11:28:08 pm

I have an 8 frame observation hive and I have never seen the wax on a bee. I do see the clear flakes in the bottom trays and I see them in the oil trays of my large hives when there is no oil in them.
Jim

Title: Re: Did I see what I think I saw?????
Post by: Intheswamp on April 30, 2013, 11:28:59 pm

A couple of pictures. (I didn't take them.)  Ed

(http://ts2.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.4593339670724665&pid=1.7)

(http://www.extension.org/mediawiki/files/1/12/HoneyBeeWaxScalesReduced.jpg)

Title: Re: Did I see what I think I saw?????
Post by: Georgia Boy on April 30, 2013, 11:33:14 pm

That was it. Weird the way she was walking in and out but cool none the less. :)

Did I mention this beekeeping is neat stuff.

A little scary because I don't know what I am doing, but loving it. :)

Title: Re: Did I see what I think I saw?????
Post by: PLAN-B on May 01, 2013, 09:56:38 pm

I've been seeing those scales on the board under my screened bottom boards and was wondering what it was.... Good info to have :)