...The questions remain...is it accurate that feral
> comb is recycled
> regularly; why don't we see real black comb in feral
> colonies; if the
> recycling goes on 'naturally', what is the mechanism
> and why doesn't
> it occur in beekeeper hives?
>

Hello, I find black comb in feral colonies all the time.  Heres one
example of a feral with black comb on the TB-Guy's site:
http://wind.prohosting.com/tbhguy/bee/joesw.htm

IMO, the reason why not many ferals are found with black comb is because
many feral colonies fail before 3 years time and do not have a chance to
mature.  This colony on the link above was found to be in superb state of
health, and the homeowners verified that it had been in the wall
throughout the great PA colony crashes of 95-96.  Note the vast 'open
broodnest' area,  probably the greater reason for the health of a colony
rather than new comb theory,  most mature feral colonies I find generally
have an open brood nest.

This colony also happens to be the genetic source for some impressive
allogrooming coming forward in my bees.  I must also say that I was 'very
impressed' at the homeowners knowledge of honeybees from watching their
activity and behavior for over 10 years,,, I believe every homeowner
should have a colony of bees in the wall to watch and learn!

Some natural mechanisms might be mice chewing up the comb below during
winter while the bees are clustered above, happens all the time in
domestic beekeeping.  Also, sick colonies with dwindling numbers may
retreat to a small portion of the nest that they can manage to protect and
maintain brood rearing, while wax moth and other scavengers move in to
destroy the uninhabited diseased comb in the process. This mechanism would
probably occur naturally in domestic colonies if the beekeeper failed to
intervene when things start to take a natural course.

Joe Waggle
PA

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