KathyP,
I was wondering if it could be pollen also, but my other hive next to it doesn't have the speckles. It has been like this for a while (because I figured it was probably pollen). We have had a lot of chilly/wet weather lately. We have a LOT of goldenrod around here, which the bees have been hitting heavy. I have not started feeding this hive yet because I am waiting for the honey to get capped before I harvest it. It otherwise seems to be a very strong hive; this is my first year, and it has one and a half med. supers full of surplus honey.
Alan