Comb Constancy
Lexikon
The trait of a colony to remain calm on a comb when it is lifted out, rather than becoming agitated, festooning, or running off it.
The trait of a colony to remain calm on a comb when it is lifted out, rather than becoming agitated, festooning, or running off it.
For working a colony this is one of the most pleasant traits of all: the queen can be found, the brood pattern assessed, and queen cells reliably spotted. In restless colonies, the bees festoon on the hive wall and the sides of the comb, the queen runs into the corners and is easily crushed.
Comb constancy is assessed in breeding selection alongside gentleness. It also depends on weather and time of day, however: in cool weather, early in the morning, or during a strong nectar flow, colonies sit more restlessly, and working calmly with little smoke helps as well.