Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: gov1623 on July 18, 2012, 03:29:32 pm

Title: Moisture content in capped honey
Post by: gov1623 on July 18, 2012, 03:29:32 pm
Can a box full of capped honey absorb moisture after it is taken off the hive. I have a couple boxes that was sitting around for about a week that i did not extract yet.
Title: Re: Moisture content in capped honey
Post by: AllenF on July 18, 2012, 03:49:21 pm
Capped honey is sealed honey.   No moisture getting in or out.   
Title: Re: Moisture content in capped honey
Post by: bee-nuts on July 18, 2012, 04:09:54 pm
I don't think that is right Allen.  Cappings breath, they do absorb moisture, but I don't think a week will matter much.  If cappings did not breath, larva would suffocate.
Title: Re: Moisture content in capped honey
Post by: AllenF on July 18, 2012, 05:36:48 pm
At 9 days after the egg hatches the cell is sealed over with a porous covering of wax and pollen, and starts to change into a pupa.   This is when the cocoon is spun.  But it is porous, not solid wax.
Title: Re: Moisture content in capped honey
Post by: bee-nuts on July 19, 2012, 04:19:31 am
So you are saying honey is capped with non porous wax?
Title: Re: Moisture content in capped honey
Post by: bernsad on July 19, 2012, 05:14:51 am
I would expect if the capping on the honey was porous that it would eventually weep and become tacky if left in storage for too long, I've kept capped frames for months before extracting with no apparent change. I'd say non-porous wax.
Title: Re: Moisture content in capped honey
Post by: BjornBee on July 19, 2012, 07:47:06 am
So you are saying honey is capped with non porous wax?

We started by talking about capping honey. You threw in the comment about capping larvae. Capping of honey and larvae are two different things.

There is a reason years ago that ammo and weapons were sealed in beeswax. ;)
Title: Re: Moisture content in capped honey
Post by: bee-nuts on July 20, 2012, 06:44:39 am
I always thought they were the same and wish I would have know different a long time ago.  I always assumed cappings were porous as that is what I have read but upon further reading it looks like the bees add pollen or something to it to make it porous for pupa.  I also assumed this as I have extracted honey that had to much water in it that was fully capped which dont make sense if the bees always know what they are doing.  So it appears I may have learned something new.