Bees & Old Comb question

[nao57]

So...

I had this thought.

I wondered if bees born in brood chambers made of OLD comb would have a shorter life span and worse health than those born from newer comb?

What do you think?

Or...I suppose it could be possible also for them to have more immune system ability if born with old comb?

I honestly don't know but it would be interesting to know.

 

[casportpony]

@KsKingBee, what do you think?

 

[sylviethecochin]

The reason you're supposed to get rid of old comb periodically is that wax comb is very good at holding pesticide residue. Here's a good link.

https://www.honeybeesuite.com/pesticide-residues-in-brood-comb/

I've not overwintered a hive successfully yet, but with failure comes research.

 

[KsKingBee]

@KsKingBee, what do you think?

Old comb does harbor more pathogens and chemicals from pesticides and every other thing that is found in the environment. Practically anything in the environment can be found within the wax whether the bees actually collected it or it was carried by the bees 'dirty' feet. Old comb is recommended to be changed out every three years. Many beekeepers will change out three of the ten frames in every box every year so as to keep the combs from getting too loaded with impurities.

There is no built-in immunity within the bees to chemicals and hatching in old dirty comb will not make them able to handle the stresses any better. The only benefit of using old comb is that the layers of cocoons left in the cell will build up and eventually develop into Small Cell bees that will hatch out up to one and a half days sooner which reduces the number of varroa that will hatch within the cell. It would be better to use small cell foundation and change out the old combs every three years.