Bees are dying as they emerge- help please!

[For want of a better word]

Black comb, (to me) is mans' intervention.
It is not natural, nor is it, productive.
Expect problems if your combs are black.

sooty feet.... they have been in someone's chimney, in a coal yard or "up the tump" as me granddad would have said..... anyway looks dark brown to me!

 

[chickendave]

Black comb, (to me) is mans' intervention.
It is not natural, nor is it, productive.
Expect problems if your combs are black.

I see nothing wrong in the comb, it can look like that after one season from freshly drawn fondation

 

[beekake]

From the sound of it, it is all over. Depending on which replies I take notice of, the colony is doomed and their comb is worthless! I love being a beekeeper!

 

[Into the lions den]

Black comb, (to me) is mans' intervention.
It is not natural, nor is it, productive.
Expect problems if your combs are black.

Really?

I have done some removals as a favour for a friend in the roofing trade of colonies that have been in roof spaces for years.

Black combs? Sometimes so black, so old and so tough that it was like cutting through heavy cardboard boxes, almost needed a saw rather than a knife. The longest comb I ever met in one of these was well over 20 feet long, and as black as coal for much of its length.

Not productive? The heaviest cut out (and it was on dark comb) was nearly 500 lbs of honey, all of it sycamore. Years ago Bob Couston cut one out with over half a tonne.

Expect problems? Guess these bees did not read the 'natural colonies and new comb all the time' theories.

 

[Into the lions den]

From the sound of it, it is all over. Depending on which replies I take notice of, the colony is doomed and their comb is worthless! I love being a beekeeper!

Colony doomed? definite yes.
Comb worthless? Probably no.

 

[For want of a better word]

BIG market for black beeswax in some parts... candles !

 

[newportbuzz]

BIG market for black beeswax in some parts... candles !

satan worshipers dont use candles.
common misconception
they let the darkness RULE.

 

[Black Comb]

There's still life in me.

 

[For want of a better word]

satan worshipers dont use candles.
common misconception
they let the darkness RULE.

Thanks for that.. more information than I really wanted!​

 

[Norton]

Yes, we do have these occasional gems of wisdom on the forum. Everything we all wanted to know about black magic, the occult and witchcraft.

I belong to another fraternity that goes around in all white suits, wears funny hats, blows smoke over everything and can often be spotted with other members doing strange things in the middle of the night.........

 

[tonybloke]

 

[Into the lions den]

I belong to another fraternity that goes around in all white suits, wears funny hats, blows smoke over everything and can often be spotted with other members doing strange things in the middle of the night.........

lol........guess that makes you a Druid or KKK..............after all NOTHING we do as beekeepers could POSSIBLY be considered strange!

 

[For want of a better word]

Yes, we do have these occasional gems of wisdom on the forum. Everything we all wanted to know about black magic, the occult and witchcraft.

I belong to another fraternity that goes around in all white suits, wears funny hats, blows smoke over everything and can often be spotted with other members doing strange things in the middle of the night.........

Do you use RED lanterns ?​

 

[Norton]

Err, Yes!

We get ambushed by the anti-poaching brigade or the police at least once a year. When they find out who we really are they issue that famous British army command "Leg it lads"...........

 

[RogueDrone]

Could be a heavy infestation of mite. upside down and tongues out ? but I would expect pererated caps.
But willing to be corrected.