Yesterday I inspected he hive that had the weird brood. Four weeks after the original photos were taken, the brood appears normal now. Similar to Frank Lindsay's experience. Mystery remains. The colony appears healthy and strong. Nectar flow is on and they bees are pushing the queen down as brood hatches. There is a chance the bees superseded the queen, but can't be sure.
http://s19.postimg.org/it8xiybtf/P1040155.jpg
There was a comment about not seeing many adult bees, but is a result of the black bees' tendency to run on the comb, especially when smoked.
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