Spot Capped Brood In Your Hive

BEEKEEPERSTIPS.COM

It is important to be able to identify the differences between brood and honey cells in your beehive.

Yellow Leaf
Green Leaf
Squiggly Line

What Does Honeycomb Look Like? Honeycomb consists of two types –  uncapped and capped honeycomb.

Off-white Section Separator

Uncapped Honey Comb

This is the nectar that is being treated by enzymes and is being dried by the bees. 

1.

Off-white Section Separator

Capped Honey Comb

Capped honey is quite easy to see – it was a layer of wax over it.

2.

The queen lays eggs and these become larvae. Capped bee brood has bee pupae underneath. 

What Does Capped Brood Look Like?

Off-white Section Separator
Yellow Leaf

If it is honey in there, and the frame is heavy, then you have a honey frame. 

An Easy Way For Beginners To Tell The Difference Between Brood and Honey Cells

Off-white Section Separator
Yellow Leaf

If brood is cooled below their optimum temperature, the bees will come out deformed, or die and rot in the cells. This is called chill brood.

What To Do If You Accidentally Bring Brood Home?

Yellow Leaf
Green Leaf
Wavy Line
Squiggly Line
Banner With Dots

ADVICE

Bee brood also tastes surprisingly good. I still find it has a “weird” factor, but once you overcome that, it actually tastes really good. 

BEEKEEPERSTIPS.COM

Yellow Leaf

For more tips and articles, visit: