Bees eating foundation?

[popcornpie]

Just inspected my 2 hives and found that the bees in one hive have been eating away the foundation at the bottom of the frames in the brood box leaving big gaps. Why are they doing this? I am half way through treating with Apiguard and put the second tray in today. The first tray was empty and there has been virtually no varroa drop so far. The inspection board is in place so could they be too hot? Or hungry? I did feed them before starting the Apiguard. Also there was a small patch of what looked like bird poo on top of one of the frames.

 

[B+.]

the bees in one hive have been eating away the foundation at the bottom of the frames in the brood box leaving big gaps.

This is perfectly normal, especially if they haven't drawn out the comb at the bottom of the frame. They create "communication holes" so they can pass from one side of the comb to the other easier.

 

[popcornpie]

Thank you for putting my mind at rest!

 

[drex]

Agree with B+. In my experience they are more prone to doing it if there is no particular need to draw out the frames. For example it is rare if there is a good flow on.

 

[user 6228]

one of those behaviours well known to bee keepers but not described in the scientific papers. communication passages or re use of wax gets a line in a 1976 paper and thats it. If you have found more contact me.

 

[alfazer]

I know about them chewing holes in the foundation, but are you saying the bees actually eat the foundation? ie. consume, swallow, digest?

 

[Heather]

They also remove it to allow the frame to move a little easier so vibration travels. Communication.

 

[enrico]

But next year that is where you will find queen cells, hidden in the holes!
E

 

[Hivemaker.]

This is perfectly normal, especially if they haven't drawn out the comb at the bottom of the frame. They create "communication holes" so they can pass from one side of the comb to the other easier.

They also remove it to allow the frame to move a little easier so vibration travels. Communication.

Why do they do this much less when solid floors are used, and hardly ever do it in second and subsequent boxes of foundation added above, where they draw right to the bottom bar.

 

[B+.]

Why do they do this much less when solid floors are used, and hardly ever do it in second and subsequent boxes of foundation added above, where they draw right to the bottom bar.

I'm not sure that it has anything to do with the floor. I think it is more to do with the fact that they won't want a void between the boxes. They want a contiguous comb area.

 

[Hivemaker.]

I'm not sure that it has anything to do with the floor.

So why do they do this less with solid floors?

Also why during cold weather in hives of comparable strength can the bees bee seen clustered right down low and even onto the floor when solid floors are used, but much higher in the box when open mesh floors are used, and not covering the mesh floor.

 

[Poly Hive]

TBH the floor issue is in my view a red herring. Far more to do with warmth I think as in crappy weather I see it and in good weather I don't. Possibly also genetics as some colonies are more prone to it than others.

PH

 

[REDWOOD]

And next year they will make some nice queen cells there

 

[Briarfield]

This year I tried some of T's crimple foundation which is vertically wired not the usual W.

No nibbling. Looks better in the Obs hive bit not sure it's worth it for standard use although it is sturdier for 14*12 which can get a bit floppy if there's too much nibbling.


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[user 6228]

Why do they do this much less when solid floors are used, and hardly ever do it in second and subsequent boxes of foundation added above, where they draw right to the bottom bar.

Its a total blank space as regards actual experimental knowledge.
We can infer this: if the man made bee space between the frame and the wall wasnt there (a completely different discussion) then the holes the bees make through the comb (Seeley's termed them "peripheral galleries") would substantially alter the airflow and heat transfer in their environment.
But the what and the possible why ... is to be determined.

Thanks for the info that behaviour is modified by mesh floor vs solid.

 

[B+.]

Thanks for the info that behaviour is modified by mesh floor vs solid.

I think I'm right in saying that Hivemakers hives are all wood (?). I don't see the same behaviour that he reports in my polyhives (using pure carnica bees) so Poly Hive may be right. Genetics may play as much a role as warmth in the hive.

To be honest, I tend not to put foundation in the bottom box so I don't really see this behaviour anymore.