I will try to take some pictures this season to show you how bees propolize
the rim of the cell but not the inside of it.

This is clearly seen on just drawn foundation. Bees first draw the cells,
then propolize the rims then the queen put the egg at the bottom of the
cell.

After the first bees hatch the inside of the cell start to get brown, at the
second round of brood, the cells are dark.

That is why I do not think the browning is due to propolis but rather the
cocoon or the heat of the brood or something done by the bees on the wax,
from the inside or outside of the cell, but not from propolis.

I am probably wrong, I am just describing my observations after rising some
4000 hives in 5 years starting with 50 grown hives ie. my bees have drawn
more than 100000 frames, when i consider two super per hive.

There are other factor that could taint the cells dark. We all know that
apart from brood in the same cells bees store pollen and honey, they also sleep
or rest inside the cells or get in there to heat the hive.

I am thinking also in the honey house where the bees walk on the ceiling and
walls and the lines where they walk end up black with ... dust?.



-- 
Juanse Barros J.
APIZUR S.A.
Carrera 695
Gorbea - CHILE
+56-45-271693
08-3613310
http://apiaraucania.blogspot.com/
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