tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8712110501673732079.post6419343349556484778..comments2024-03-22T13:57:03.401-05:00Comments on The Peace Bee Farmer: Building Honey CombRichard Underhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00014016516339819639noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8712110501673732079.post-63636775537757327682010-05-04T22:16:18.363-05:002010-05-04T22:16:18.363-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Richard Underhillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00014016516339819639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8712110501673732079.post-40148305963243172742010-05-04T22:15:45.293-05:002010-05-04T22:15:45.293-05:00Jamie,
That’s an interesting question. Foundation ...Jamie,<br />That’s an interesting question. Foundation makes up the mid-rib of honeycomb. It may be either natural beeswax or plastic coated with beeswax. The bees in this picture are building comb on plastic foundation. The six-sided imprint serves as a guide to the bees to start drawing out the cells. If natural beeswax foundation is used, the bees will start drawing out the comb from the material in the foundation. However, for them to complete building the nest, they need additional food to allow them to secrete beeswax. The bees must have available a large amount of nectar to draw out all of the frames in a hive. It is usually necessary to feed bees sugar syrup to allow them to draw out their comb. Plastic foundation usually has even less beeswax available for the bees to use as a starting point in building the nest. It requires even more carbohydrate for the bees to fully draw the comb.<br /><br />Another point: it is always a good idea to reduce the hive entrance anytime you are feeding bees. This reduction helps the guard bees defend the hive from robber bees. Jamie, be sure to inspect your hive regularly this first year to watch how the bees build their nest. Enjoy your bees.<br />--RichardRichard Underhillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00014016516339819639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8712110501673732079.post-25219771930939635392010-05-04T08:15:06.262-05:002010-05-04T08:15:06.262-05:00Hi there! So, I just installed my first packages o...Hi there! So, I just installed my first packages of bees last week, and one question keeps bugging me: Do bees use JUST the wax on the foundation sheets to "draw out" the comb? I was thinking it was just an imprint, but they actually chew it and reform it to make the cell walls, right? Do they add their own wax too? Thanks for your blog!Jamie Kennedy Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09065012787533780692noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8712110501673732079.post-90534132755846841552009-06-26T23:35:53.641-05:002009-06-26T23:35:53.641-05:00Mr Underhill, I'm the lady with the hollow tre...Mr Underhill, I'm the lady with the hollow tree in Oakland, TN who called you the other day in a panic. <br />I love this photo, it has stirred my imagination about the bees who are making their home in our tree. You had asked what kind of tree it is, I now think it's a pecan tree. I may have to correct that info later, though.<br />I thank you again for making me feel more blessed to have a bee tree, than I felt when I first found out that we had one. <br />we were just watching a program tonight on TV that said water should be provided, carefully, for bees. We have the perfect thing that we bought to provide water for a butterfly garden! It's shallow so the bees won't drown, and just maybe we can plant some butterfly loving plants around the tree as well. <br />Again thanks for taking the time with me over the phone. <br />Pamela PoorAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com