Holy foundation!

[Tomo]

No..not the religious type! Just a spelling mistook.
Inspected on Sunday and found that an expanding colony had started to make large holes (3 inches by 3 inches) in the foundation on the last two empty frames. 7 frames of brood, food, etc. The holed foundation did have some pollen mould which I had scraped down to the centre expecting the bees to fix it, apart from that it was last years clean comb from an AS. Is this normal? Of course I will replace it soon, or should I? Thanks.

 

[dexter's shed]

why replace, bees build good wax,

 

[Tom Bick]

Normal for the bees they are not so concerned about having perfect combs as we are. In time when they are perhaps pushed for space they may fill in the holes.

 

[Tomo]

So why are they doing it and what are they doing with the wax?

 

[snelgrove]

No..not the religious type! Just a spelling mistook.
Inspected on Sunday and found that an expanding colony had started to make large holes (3 inches by 3 inches) in the foundation on the last two empty frames. 7 frames of brood, food, etc. The holed foundation did have some pollen mould which I had scraped down to the centre expecting the bees to fix it, apart from that it was last years clean comb from an AS. Is this normal? Of course I will replace it soon, or should I? Thanks.

Unless the foundation is fresh and not stale which I would asume that yours is if it is off last year . The bees will be very slow to draw it out and build burr comb between frames and chew holes in it. Foundation must be fresh

 

[Erichalfbee]

Unless the foundation is fresh and not stale which I would asume that yours is if it is off last year . The bees will be very slow to draw it out and build burr comb between frames and chew holes in it. Foundation must be fresh

Not really, not in my experience....When bees need it,when it is warm and there is food they will draw any old wax.

 

[enrico]

I agree with everyone! They might build it out, they may never build it out. They often do chew holes, if it is bad I put in new foundation. I don't scrape mouldy pollen out though, the bees will remove it if it is no good. What do they do with the wax? Sometimes they use it, sometimes they spit it out! Why? No idea!
E

 

[Arfermo]

I agree with everyone! They might build it out, they may never build it out. They often do chew holes, if it is bad I put in new foundation. I don't scrape mouldy pollen out though, the bees will remove it if it is no good. What do they do with the wax? Sometimes they use it, sometimes they spit it out! Why? No idea!
E

Gotta get a bee psychoanalyst to answer this one? Do you really think an answer is forthcoming?

 

[snelgrove]

Not really, not in my experience....When bees need it,when it is warm and there is food they will draw any old wax.

in your experience your rite, in my experience I am rite, nothing new here in the keeping of bees

 

[Tom Bick]

So why are they doing it and what are they doing with the wax?

Probably using it elsewhere in the hive.

Not tried it but would like to give it a go one day. Give the bees a sheet of coloured foundation and see where the colour pops up.

 

[YorkshireBees]

Probably using it elsewhere in the hive.

Not tried it but would like to give it a go one day. Give the bees a sheet of coloured foundation and see where the colour pops up.

I'm sure they would spell out "Leave us alone, we know what we are doing!"