hi there,
 
this year i lost my only hive.  things seemed to be going well until
i checked them in february, shortly after which i noticed not a bee
to be seen.  opened the hive again, no bees.
 
question:  i have many frames of capped honey, with some uncapped and
possibly fermenting honey (strong smell) mixed in.  there is also some
very gray and dried looking comb mixed about, which i assume is where
brood might have been.  the ants are moving in to go after everything
they can find.
 
can i use the capped honey, or should i scrape off everything and
start all over?  what is the "danger" of the gray comb for a) honey,
and b) future bees?
 
thanks!
john