An Examination of a Feral Honeybee Colony for Parasites: 7
All photos copyright 2001, David L. Green  Unauthorized use prohibited
October 14, 2001, Stuckey, SC

Collapsed Comb at the Bottom

   Curiously, along the bottom of the cavity is a crumpled mass of collapsed comb. It appears to have sagged and crumpled when full of honey and very warm. Perhaps this wall became overheated during a very hot spell in a past summer when the outside temperature went over 100 F. The sun on the wall could have raised the inside temperature higher, though bees usually fan to cool their hive. I do not have any sure explanation for this crumpled comb, some of which is still full of honey. The straight comb above it is not new; it is at least two, probably three or four years old, as indicated by the dark color of the wax with embedded pupal cases in the brood area. So the sagging event is not from this past season.

   This twisted comb offered some nooks and crannies which would be typical hiding spots for african hive beetles, a recently introduced parasite, though to have been imported on fruit into one of the eastern ports, likely Savannah, GA or Beaufort, SC. With a careful and thorough examination of every possible hiding spot, I did not spot any beetles. These beetles are widespread in the area, and they fly freely, so exposure seems likely. Why are there none present in this colony?

For more on the afrobeetles from Georgia Extension

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