Interesting student work:

> This thesis aims to elucidate some of the potential benefits of old darkened brood comb by recording differences in colony preference for, larval survival on, and antimicrobial activity of wax combs that have or have not been used for larval rearing.

> Overall, we observed no differences in colony preference for or larval survival on comb treatments that were or were not previously used for larval rearing. However, there were antimicrobial effects of extracts made from both darkened brood comb and light honey comb against a honey bee pathogen, Melisococcus plutonius—the bacterial agent responsible for a larval bee disease called European Foulbrood. Extracts of propolis were also found to inhibit M. plutonius growth, suggesting that the antimicrobial effects of wax may derive from the propolis incorporated into wax. However, the antibacterial components of wax combs are still unknown and should be studied further.

Effects of used brood comb and propolis on honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) and their associated bacterium, Melissococcus plutonius
By Stephanie K. Murray. (2019).  Graduate Program in Entomology. The Ohio State University

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nice work, Stephanie

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