Board reading

[Bumble Bee Slim]

I'm finding a high number of beautiful fresh wax scales on the bottom boards of all my hives- is this to be taken as a sure sign of brood rearing ? Also is it possible to distinguish between wax debris from brood capping and that from stores being opened?
Thanks in anticipation of an answer or two
Dave

 

[Boston Bees]

I'm finding a high number of beautiful fresh wax scales on the bottom boards of all my hives- is this to be taken as a sure sign of brood rearing ? Also is it possible to distinguish between wax debris from brood capping and that from stores being opened?
Thanks in anticipation of an answer or two
Dave

Photo would help people help you, if you can.

 

[Bumble Bee Slim]

Photo would help people help you, if you can.

Damn, I've just cleaned the boards .

 

[Curly green finger's]

Brood cappings are usually browny colour, stores are generally whitey/cream colour. You will usually see brood cappings in the middle of the frames on the inspection board and stores towards the walls of the hive.
Wax scales probably bees capping brood.

 

[Erichalfbee]

A rule of thumb is that brood cappings are light brown whereas stores cappings are lighter.
If you have wax flakes then the bees are likely capping cells.
Sometimes you get darker grubby debris when the bees are cleaning cells out

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I'm finding a high number of beautiful fresh wax scales on the bottom boards

sure it's not cappings taken off stores?

 

[Bumble Bee Slim]

sure it's not cappings taken off stores?

Pristine,almost transparent and regularly shaped

 

[Michael Palmer]

A wax scale on bottom board with bee for size reference.

 

[Bumble Bee Slim]

A wax scale on bottom board with bee for size reference.

Yep ,thats definitely what I'm seeing, in my limited experience of beekeeping I have never seen so many this early in the year.

 

[Murox]

Pristine,almost transparent and regularly shaped

Seems to suggest they haven't yet been 'worked' by the bees, they start off that way but after being 'worked' get whiter.

 

[oliver90owner]

It at least confirms the colony is alive.

 

[Mabee]

I have OMF’s on all hives but I also place a correx board below the hive on the ground in winter to observe what they are doing, I find it’s a really good unobtrusive way of monitoring them. All of mine have had brood uncappings continuously this year (Scotland)

 

[Michael Palmer]

Yep ,thats definitely what I'm seeing, in my limited experience of beekeeping I have never seen so many this early in the year.

Are you feeding syrup now? The photo is from during October when I'm feeding for winter. Bottom board entrances are always littered with wax scales caused by feeding syrup.

 

[Finman]

I'm finding a high number of beautiful fresh wax scales on the bottom boards of all my hives- is this to be taken as a sure sign of brood rearing ? Also is it possible to distinguish between wax debris from brood capping and that from stores being opened?
Thanks in anticipation of an answer or two
Dave

Let the bees stay in peace in winter.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Are you feeding syrup now? The photo is from during October when I'm feeding for winter. Bottom board entrances are always littered with wax scales caused by feeding syrup.

Of course! The bees have to do something with all that energy. I see that.
No syrup this time of year though

 

[Bumble Bee Slim]

Are you feeding syrup now? The photo is from during October when I'm feeding for winter. Bottom board entrances are always littered with wax scales caused by feeding syrup.

No feeding at the moment

 

[Bumble Bee Slim]

Let the bees stay in peace in winter.

Can a quick sliding out and inspection of a bottom board on a warm day (14C) really be construed as being detrimental to the bees well being ?

 

[Finman]

Can a quick sliding out and inspection of a bottom board on a warm day (14C) really be construed as being detrimental to the bees well being ?

It is winter there however, and bees have winter rest. Quick or slow, bees will notice it. But perhaps not worse that great tits knocking.

 

[Bumble Bee Slim]

But perhaps not worse that great tits knocking.

I will say nothing !

 

[StephenT]

Reminds me of being in Finland on business about 10 years ago. Got back to the hotel in the evening, turned on the telly and Benny Hill was on one of the main channels. Smutty bunch.