Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: 2-Wheeler on June 25, 2007, 10:58:48 pm

Title: What's going on here (pix)?
Post by: 2-Wheeler on June 25, 2007, 10:58:48 pm

This is a picture taken a two months ago from our 2nd year hive. The picture shows the bottom of a brood frame from the upper deep.

(http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1058/603954347_42e35b8a3b_o.jpg)

A number of the capped cells at the bottom broke open when removing the frame. We haven't see this before, can someone please explain what we are seeing here?

Also, this picture shows the queen working the same area about a month earlier.
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/173/435003305_0a9dd59181.jpg)

Analysis anyone?

Title: Re: What's going on here (pix)?
Post by: Brian D. Bray on June 25, 2007, 11:05:55 pm

Not to worry.  Bees often use burr comb for drone comb.  When you pull the frames the burr comb tears and you have a very nice picture of the result.  The bees will clean up the mess, removing the brood that was exposed. 

Title: Re: What's going on here (pix)?
Post by: MrILoveTheAnts on June 25, 2007, 11:11:56 pm

I've seen my bees actually build new cells around the exposed brood.

Title: Re: What's going on here (pix)?
Post by: LET-CA on June 26, 2007, 12:44:42 am

Can someone with more knowledge please tell me what the cells are with the "highly domed" caps?  Are those just drone cells too?  I've noticed a fair number of those on some of my brood frames.

Thanks in advance. - Lenny

Title: Re: What's going on here (pix)?
Post by: rdy-b on June 26, 2007, 02:02:24 am

the ones that look like 357 magnums are drones. are those the ones that you are wondering about ;) drones are a good healthy part of the colony. as long as they arnt the only cells you see then no worries  :lol:

Title: Re: What's going on here (pix)?
Post by: LET-CA on June 26, 2007, 03:54:28 am

Quote from: rdy-b on June 26, 2007, 02:02:24 am

the ones that look like 357 magnums are drones. are those the ones that you are wondering about ;) drones are a good healthy part of the colony. as long as they arnt the only cells you see then no worries  :lol:

Thanks, those were the ones I was referring too.

Title: Re: What's going on here (pix)?
Post by: JP on June 26, 2007, 10:14:32 am

I thought Brian answered your question nicely, and rdy-b reaffirmed Brian's analysis.

Title: Re: What's going on here (pix)?
Post by: 2-Wheeler on June 26, 2007, 05:46:25 pm

Thanks everyone for the education! We did see a fair number of drones this year.

Title: Re: What's going on here (pix)?
Post by: doak on June 26, 2007, 08:10:52 pm

That is a very good time to check for Varroa Mites. If you have any, some will be found there. Hard to miss on the white larvae.
doak