Honey bees do such a exceptional job of constructing honeycomb for his or her house. Generally, they construct comb in undesirable locations (a minimum of from the beekeeper’s standpoint). This extra comb known as -“burr comb”. Whereas it’s fascinating, it will also be an issue. Right here, I share a number of the causes bees construct burr comb and techniques to take care of it.

Burr comb (and bridge comb) are merely additional bits of honeycomb that’s inbuilt locations that make beehive administration tougher. Listed below are a few of my finest concepts to scale back the quantity of extra comb in your hive.

Do You Have Burr Comb in Your Hive?

Don’t be dismayed to discover a small quantity of burr comb in your beehives. It occurs to all of us and usually poses no main drawback. Nevertheless, we don’t wish to to get out of hand.

Regular Comb Development

Honey bees are the one bugs that produce and form wax for his or her house. The beehive incorporates many sheets of honeycomb with hundreds of hexagonal beeswax cells.

These cells are utilized by the colony for storing meals and elevating child bees. Employee bees are continually monitoring the situation of the comb and constructing new when wanted. However, they’ll construct an excessive amount of of a very good factor.

Frequent Hassle Spots

Burr comb can present up in some bizarre locations however some areas of the hive usually tend to have additional wax.

• on prime of frames
• round a queen cage

One of the frequent locations a beekeeper will discover one of these wax is on prime of frames. When the measurements between the underside of the frames in a single field and the highest bars of frames within the field beneath is off. Is that this a extremely large drawback?

No, it’s largely an inconvenience. Nevertheless, it’s a good suggestion to take away the burr comb once you see it within the hive. It’ll solely make hive inspections tougher sooner or later.

Round Queen Cage

It is usually frequent to seek out some burr comb constructed across the queen cage of a new package deal bee set up. This isn’t an issue. Simply take away the surplus comb once you take away the queen cage from the frames.

Formation of Burr Comb

In some conditions, bees assemble comb in irregular or undesirable places inside the hive, corresponding to between frames, alongside hive partitions, and even in open areas.

That is fueled by their want to verify of each little bit of house inside the hive. Nevertheless, there are components that contribute to the formation of burr comb within the hive.

• crowded circumstances within the colony
• irregular spacing between the frames
• ignoring bee house in hive building

Crowded Situations

A powerful colony with a big inhabitants has a whole lot of employee bees to construct comb. Additionally they want cupboard space for incoming meals and rearing bee brood. They’ll construct additional wax – burr comb in any out there house.

Body Spacing

Trendy beehives are designed for the frames to be pushed intently collectively – with any further house on the edges of the field.

Generally, beekeepers overlook to push the frames again collectively after a hive inspection – or they pass over a body fully. The bees will make use of this house.

Every sheet of comb could be about 3/8” apart- this grew to become often known as “bee house” as a result of it gave the bees simply sufficient room to journey between the combs. The basic Langstroth hive dimensions are designed with the idea of “bee house” in thoughts.

Nevertheless, many hive parts aren’t lower to strict specs and the dimensions of packing containers or frames might differ just a bit bit from one producer to the following.

With mixing and matching of hive components from completely different sources, even packing containers constructed to express measurements may be off by a bit.

This ends in bees having a bit an excessive amount of house right here and there which they don’t wish to waste. They’ll try to fill that house.

You must also bear in mind to maintain bee house in thoughts when constructing your personal hives. For those who don’t comply with the really helpful measurements, you’ll have extra issues with burr comb.

Bridge Comb and Cross Comb

Along with additional wax positioned on the highest bars, we generally discover bridge comb or cross comb (brace comb).

These are sections of comb that join 2 frames collectively. That is essentially the most harmful sort of extra wax. It could trigger comb to be torn from the frames throughout inspections.

Whereas this will happen in any hive, it’s seen extra usually when utilizing new plastic basis. Generally, the bees try so as to add one other sheet of wax in between two frames that’s minimally connected.

Eradicating Burr Comb within the Hive

Why hassle eradicating burr comb – if they are going to simply construct it again? If for no different motive, it makes future inspections tough and the removeable components of the hive turn into caught down more durable.

Another excuse to make use of your hive instrument to scrape off burr comb is pest management. Extra wax offers Small Hive Beetles and different honey bee pests a spot to cover.

• gently smoke the bees down
• use your hive instrument to scrape wax off the highest bars
• scrape off any main quantities of wax connected to partitions of hive

Comb with Drone Larvae

It is not uncommon to seek out bee larvae or brood in comb between the packing containers. That is very upsetting to many new beekeepers. Generally, this might be drone bees.

Their larvae are often positioned on the surface perimeter of the brood nest as a result of they don’t seem to be as precious to the colony as employees.

Clear Up

You could be tempted to casually throw the additional wax you take away on the bottom. This isn’t the most effective observe. The aroma of honey and wax attracts extra pests to your bee yard.

In truth, that extra wax is effective. You’ll be able to save the small items of comb in a container. When you have got sufficient saved, clear the beeswax and use it for enjoyable bee craft tasks.

Professional Tricks to Reduce Extra Comb

Nobody is ideal and generally we beekeepers make errors too. However, taking strides to keep away from issues with a whole lot of burr comb within the hive makes your duties simpler in the long term.

• push hive frames shut collectively earlier than closing hive.
• depend to verify all frames are within the hive.
• when you construct your personal gear – use right blueprints or hive plans.
• take away any additional wax the bees have began once you first see it.
• with new basis – monitor the progress – if bees are getting began mistaken – take away the misplaced wax. Hopefully, they are going to construct appropriately subsequent time.
• watch out when shopping for used beekeeping gear that will not be customary measurement.

FAQs

Last Ideas

Discovering burr comb in your hive isn’t an enormous drawback – it occurs to all of us. This frequent problem may be dealt with simply with routine hive upkeep. I might not substitute my gear or go to any excessive measures. Clear it up once you see it. Notice that the bees will most definitely construct it again in case your bee house is off. And, that’s okay.

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