Natural Comb (Wild Build)
Lexikon
Comb building outside the frames, for example crosswise between the combs, beneath the top bars, or in the empty space of a box.
Comb building outside the frames, for example crosswise between the combs, beneath the top bars, or in the empty space of a box.
It arises wherever bee space is not maintained. About eight millimeters is considered the guideline value, though figures vary by source between roughly six and ten. If the space is larger, the bees build it out; if it is smaller, they seal it with propolis. Missing or crookedly hanging frames also lead to natural comb, as does a lack of space in the colony: strong natural comb on the frames or in cavities is regarded as a sign that the colony needs to be expanded.
Natural comb makes working laborious, because pulling out combs tears open brood and honey. Boxes should therefore always be filled completely with frames and scraped clean regularly.