Honey comb

[blackcloud]

As I am currently sans apis,I'm doing an inventory and repair regime of all the unused kit I have acquired.
There is a super with a full rack of otherwise nicely drawn honeycomb but the tips of the cells are tinged with propolis.
Will they use it again and clean it off or is the wax for melting?
Id imagine it would taint honey?

 

[enrico]

If there s honey in it why aren't you eating it? It won't bother the bees!
E

 

[Bienenwachs]

I’ve just been reading Juergen Tautz’s book, The Buzz About Bees, in which he describes how the bees add propolis to amend the strength and rigidity of the comb in this manner in order to improve their dance communication within the hive as it affects the resonant frequencies of the comb so I’d say it’s perfectly normal.

Aside from that snippet, a thoroughly enjoyable read too!

 

[SDM]

Mixing wax and propolis in cells is entirely normal

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

As I am currently sans apis,I'm doing an inventory and repair regime of all the unused kit I have acquired.
There is a super with a full rack of otherwise nicely drawn honeycomb but the tips of the cells are tinged with propolis.
Will they use it again and clean it off or is the wax for melting?
Id imagine it would taint honey?

It will be fine, and win't taint the honey, if it's only the tips, you could just trim it a bit with a sharp knife